Woman Digs Her Nail Into an Officer’s Finger and Tears it Open

Just before 9:00 p.m. on Friday, Missoula 911 received multiple reports of an accident in the area of the Good Food Store near the intersection of Russell Street and South 3^rd Street West. Callers informed dispatch the female driver of the crashed vehicle was attempting to walk away from the scene of the crash and a witness was following her on Caitlin Street.

A short time later, 911 received separate phone calls reporting that the same vehicle had just minutes before crashed into a vehicle in the Westside Lanes parking lot and had left the scene. Police Public Information Officer Lydia Arnold explains.

“It was later determined this female had been involved in another accident, which she had left from,” Arnold said. “On scene, officers received descriptions of the suspect female, 33-year-old Jade Ygnatowiz. Officers were able to locate Jade. Officers observed indicators of the suspect female being intoxicated and noticed signs of impairment.”

Court documents indicate the responding officer immediately smelt the overwhelming odor of an alcoholic beverage emanating from Ygnatowiz. The officer also observed that she was bleeding from scrapes on her knee and arm from injuries consistent with a crash, but he was unable to determine the extent of her injuries or if she needed medical assistance. The officer told Ygnatowiz to sit down multiple times, but she refused. As the officer attempted to detain her, she immediately began to pull away.

“The suspect female was uncooperative through the investigation and even caused an injury to the officer,” Arnold said. “The officer had to receive medical attention due to the extent of the injury. Multiple officers were on scene and were able to obtain comments from witnesses regarding what they had observed prior to officers arrival. Jade is being held at the Missoula County Jail on charges related to DUI, criminal endangerment, and multiple traffic violations.”

The officer transported Ygnatowiz to St. Patrick’s Hospital so they could take a look at her injuries. Ygnatowiz continued to be uncooperative with police and medical staff. She allegedly ripped off medical devices that were placed on her, grabbed hostilely at medical staff, and behaved like she was going to spit on anyone near her.

At one point, Ygnatowiz grabbed an officer’s right index and middle fingers, violently digging her nail in, ripping through the gloves he was wearing, and tearing his index finger open. Ygnatowiz refused to remove her hand and fingernails from the officer and he had to rip his hand from her grip. The officer experienced a lot of pain and received medical treatment for the gaping laceration on his finger.

Ygnatowiz was charged with felony criminal endangerment, felony assault on a peace officer, DUI, and leaving the scene of an accident.