A 26-year-old woman is expected to face a charge of assault and battery on a public employee after she allegedly bit an Andover firefighter who was treating her during a Tuesday afternoon, Aug. 4, emergency response on Andover Street.

Police, firefighters and emergency medical personnel responded to the residence after receiving a report of a woman who was out of control, according to Andover News, which monitored police and fire radio traffic. Before crews arrived, the woman had become unresponsive but was still breathing. Dispatchers told responders that Narcan had been administered prior to their arrival.

The woman regained consciousness during the response. She became combative, and a firefighter was bitten while providing medical care.

Assistant Fire Chief Keith Weightman told Andover News that "the firefighter returned to full duty after being assessed at the scene."

A second woman at the residence nearly fainted during the incident, prompting dispatchers to send a second ambulance. Both women were transported to the hospital.

Under Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 265, Section 13D, assault and battery on a public employee while that employee is performing their duties carries a penalty of 90 days to 2½ years in a house of correction, a fine of $500 to $5,000, or both. A March 3, 2026, amendment to the statute explicitly added "assault and battery by means of a bodily substance," defined to include saliva, making a biting incident a direct application of the updated law.

The charge had not been formally filed as of Tuesday, Aug. 4, when Andover News reported the incident. Police radio traffic indicated the woman would face the charge, but the incident remains under investigation.

Residents with information can contact the Andover Police Department.