Bee‑Opens the Door—A Beekeeping Escapade Turns into a Swarm Showdown
Boston, October 19—In a move that made headlines because it was literally honey‑bad (and no, we didn’t just say that to be cute), a 55‑year‑old professional beekeeper named Rorie Woods allegedly used a whole hive of angry bees as a weapon against law‑enforcement officers in Longmeadow, Massachusetts.
The Scene
It was a crisp morning in the south‑central part of the state. Deputies were on a mission to serve an eviction notice to a man who had fluffed a headline in local media, stirring up anti‑eviction activists for years. Among the supporters was Rorie, who showed up with a stack of freshly manufactured beehives slung onto the back of an SUV.
At around 9:15 am, she pulled out of the driveway, jumped into her harness, and opened the lids—expecting to deliver a gentle, honey‑filled welcome to the tenants. Unfortunately, the bees were not on the “party” list.
When the Bees Became Lethal
A deputy attempted to put a stop to her floral plan. However, once the bees burst out and started swirling in frantic fashion, the officer reversed his stance—literally, he pulled back. Then Wes smashed a hive lid, flipped the plastic tower off the flatbed, and the community turned into a quick‑draw battle of stings.
Several officers and nearby bystanders were stung, one deputy had to be rushed to the hospital for treatment, and by the time the police arrived, Rorie was wrapped in a professional beekeeping suit, steering the swarm toward the front door of the home trying to halt the eviction. The situation escalated, leading to her arrest.
The Sheriff’s Take
“We support peaceful protest,” said Hampden County Sheriff Nick Cocchi. “But if you flank the law with a buzzing hazard and endanger the public, we’re going to put you behind bars.”
Legal Consequences
Rorie Woods, a Hadley resident (about 40 km north of Longmeadow), now faces a whopping list of charges:
- Four felony counts of assault and battery by means of a dangerous weapon
- Three felony counts of assault by means of a dangerous weapon
- One misdemeanor disorderly conduct charge
She’s pleaded not guilty, and attempts to locate her legal counsel have so far yielded nothing.
Takeaway
All in all, the incident shows that the line between a “stick‑in‑the‑tree” protest and a full‑blown 911 situation can be crossed by a single, unanticipated flight of bees. Whether it was a misunderstood push for a safer neighborhood or a misguided bee‑roadblock, the outcome is a reminder that nature can be a double‑edged sword—just like a beehive in a courtroom.
