Trinidad woman arrested for using bear spray on crowd during 4th of July fireworks display

TRINIDAD, Colo. (KRDO) -- A Trinidad woman faces several assault charges after allegedly spraying a crowd with bear spray during a 4th of July firework display Monday night. 

Korie Howlett, 24, faces 6 separate counts of assault after being arrested outside Central Park Baseball Stadium in Trinidad. Howlett also faces a single child abuse charge. One of the alleged victims was a juvenile, according to court records obtained by 13 Investigates. 

Trinidad Police were called to the stadium just before 9:20 pm Monday on reports of a crowd being pepper-sprayed. When they arrived police observed multiple individuals suffering from the effects of being pepper-sprayed. According to court documents, police later determined it was bear spray. Emergency medical services were already at the scene providing aid to those that were sprayed. 

Cell phone video obtained by 13 Investigates shows the moments when the bear spray was allegedly dispersed into the crowd at the Central Park Baseball Stadium during the firework display. Witnesses tell 13 Investigates that the scene was "pandemonium" as hundreds tried to flee the baseball stadium.

According to witness statements, Howlett was shouting obscenities at the fireworks display while others were attempting to enjoy the evening show. Multiple people asked Howlett to be quiet or leave due to children being present. When she refused to stop, multiple individuals approached Howlett to ask her to leave the scene. That's when the suspect began spraying people with bear spray without being provoked, according to Trinidad Police. 

When police arrived on the scene Monday night, they found Howlett sitting on the ground crying. She appeared to be suffering from the effects of the spray she used.

According to court records, the suspect also appeared to be under the influence of alcohol. 

After her arrest, police said Howlett had a can of "bear attack deterrent" with her. According to court records, “the label on the can also states that it can cause permanent irreversible damage if sprayed directly in the eyes.” 

When Trinidad Police asked Howlett why she sprayed the crowd she believed everyone would attack her and hit her, and she didn’t have enough space to defend herself. Court records show that Howlett’s reasoning for bringing the can of bear spray to the fireworks show in the first place was to defend herself from her ex-boyfriend. She accused him of stalking her. 

In her arrest report, Howlett later admitted to screaming at the firework display “about how people do not actually have rights, and they should not be celebrating the 4th of July.” Howlett said she was “confrontational and a problem,” but she was still able to get her point across because the fireworks display was cut short. 

At least five victims from Monday night’s incident have requested to pursue charges against Howlett. 

Howlett's first appearance in court is scheduled for Tuesday at 3:00 pm according to court officials in Las Animas County.