Trinidad woman accused of bear spraying people during firework show investigated for second ‘chemical spray’ incident

TRINIDAD, Colo. (KRDO) -- The Trinidad Police Department is actively investigating a woman accused of assaulting people with bear spray on the Fourth of July for a second "chemical spray" incident.

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

Friday, Detective Sgt. Jennifer Lay confirmed there is a second open investigation into an alleged incident involving Howlett and "chemical spray."

Lay says the alleged incident occurred roughly a week before to the incident on the Fourth of July.

Since then, Trinidad Police says they have been interviewing alleged victims from the fireworks show all week.

13 Investigates spoke with some of the alleged victims.

Sheila Torres was at the Central Park Baseball Stadium in Trinidad Monday evening for the firework display. That's where she says she was struck in the face with bear spray.

"It was a traumatic experience for sure. One that will stick with us for the rest of our lives," Torres told 13 Investigates.

Torres says her vision remains blurry and her skin continues to burn, unlike any sunburn she has had before.

She isn't the only one with lingering injuries from that night. Her mother, father, brother, and 16-year-old daughter were all transported to San Rafael Hospital after suffering injuries from a chemical spray meant for bears.

"That's stuff a 16-year-old girl should never have to go through, and it breaks my heart as a parent," Torres said. "She's scared. She cries."

According to arrest records, Howlett was shouting obscenities at the fireworks display while others were attempting to enjoy the evening show. Howlett admitted to screaming at the firework display “about how people do not actually have rights, and they should not be celebrating the Fourth of July.”

Multiple people asked Howlett to be quiet or leave due to children being present. One of those individuals was Torres's father, Reuben Torres.

"I went up there and I confronted her and I said 'Hey what's the problem? There are women here, little kids, you need to watch what you are saying,'" Reuben recalled to 13 Investigates. "She told me she has a right to freedom of speech."

Reuben said after suggesting leaving the stadium so they can talk in private and away from the crowds, Howlett made verbal threats that quickly turned into actions.

"She told me 'What? You want to get sprayed? You want to get mace?' and I told her she doesn't want to go there," Reuben said. "The instant after I said that. She sprayed me with the bear mace."

Officers with the Trinidad Police Department (TPD) were called to the stadium just before 9:20 p.m. Monday on reports of a crowd being pepper-sprayed. When they arrived, police reportedly saw 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. 

"I saw 15 or 20 people sitting on the curb crying, women crying, children crying," Torres said. "Men! Grown men were crying."

"The sickest thing that happened was hearing this little girl crying, "I don't want to die, I don't want to die, take me out of here," Reuben said.

When the TPD asked Howlett why she sprayed the crowd, she said 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.

Reuben and Torres said she was the sole aggressor, and the only person remotely close to Howlett was Reuben.

"If you are angry with the politics and what is going on in the world handle it correctly," Torres said. "Go to the Senators, write a letter. Don't take out your anger on innocent people that were just there with their families."

Howlett's next court appearance is scheduled for July 13.