Fort Washington Woman, 60, Accused of Punching Dad, Spitting on Nurse and Police

A 60-year-old Philadelphia woman is facing a stack of criminal charges after police say she drove into her parents' Fort Washington driveway in violation of a no-contact order, punched her father, and then spat on and threatened officers and hospital staff before she was even done being treated for intoxication. Colleen Brazil is accused of setting off a chain of escalating incidents that began at a family home and ended with felony-level allegations at a regional hospital.

According to police records reviewed by Wiss Now, video from a nearby camera showed Brazil's silver Chevrolet Malibu turning into her parents' driveway, despite an active order prohibiting her from contacting them. Police say she entered the Fort Washington home through a side door and, per police records, punched her father in the chest, starting a physical altercation. Brazil left the residence only after the victims tried to calm her down, but she returned while Upper Dublin Township police were still on scene speaking with the family.

Officers who responded said they smelled alcohol on Brazil as she was screaming, according to a police affidavit, and noted she had slurred speech, per police. The victims told investigators Brazil appeared inebriated during the confrontation. When officers told her to leave, Upper Dublin Township police escorted her outside — but the encounter did not end there.

Threats, Resistance, and a Trip to the Hospital

Brazil resisted police by tensing her arms and pulling away as officers tried to take her into custody, and according to a police affidavit, she threatened to kill police during the encounter. She was ultimately admitted to Jefferson Abington Memorial Hospital due to what police described as her extremely high level of intoxication.

The Fort Washington hospital where Brazil was treated is part of Jefferson Abington Hospital, a 665-bed regional teaching facility that runs one of only two Level II adult trauma centers in Montgomery County, according to the PA Trauma Systems Foundation. The hospital's emergency department has been under an expansion push; in February, it announced a $30 million project to modernize its trauma center into what it's calling the Goodman Emergency Trauma Center, aiming to boost annual emergency visit capacity from 80,000 to 100,000, as reported by The Philadelphia Inquirer.

Allegations of Spitting and Verbal Abuse at the Hospital

While being placed on a stretcher, Brazil allegedly swung her left arm over her head in an attempt to strike a police officer, and then spat on the officer, according to the report. A hospital security guard attempted to restrain her wrists during the encounter. Police say she went on to spit on both a nurse and the security guard, and allegedly called the nurse a “dumb blonde b—” during the altercation.

Under Pennsylvania law, these kinds of allegations carry significant weight beyond typical misdemeanor assault. Intentionally expelling bodily fluids onto a law enforcement officer performing official duties is classified as a third-degree felony punishable by up to seven years in prison under 18 Pa.C.S. § 2703.1, while physical assault against police or emergency healthcare personnel can elevate charges to felony aggravated assault carrying up to 10 years under § 2702(a)(3), regardless of whether serious injury occurred, according to the Pennsylvania General Assembly. Resisting arrest itself is a second-degree misdemeanor under § 5104, carrying up to two years in prison and a $5,000 fine.

No-Contact Order Adds Separate Legal Track

Brazil's alleged violation of the no-contact order prohibiting contact with her parents opens up a separate legal avenue. Under 23 Pa.C.S. § 6114, breaching a Protection From Abuse or court-issued no-contact order can be charged as indirect criminal contempt, carrying penalties of up to six months in prison, fines between $300 and $1,000, and up to six months of supervised probation, per the Pennsylvania General Assembly.

The Upper Dublin Township Police Department, which investigated the residential incident and is headquartered at 803 Loch Alsh Avenue in Fort Washington, is led by Chief of Police Francis X. Wheatley, according to Upper Dublin Township. The department has held accredited status with the Pennsylvania Law Enforcement Accreditation Commission since 2005.

Court Proceedings Ahead

Brazil was arraigned by Magisterial District Judge Suzan G. Leonard at 7:30 p.m. on August 15. Leonard presides over District Court 38-1-21 in Blue Bell, which covers Lower Gwynedd, Upper Gwynedd and Whitpain townships along with North Wales borough.

She has a court appearance scheduled Friday before Magisterial District Judge Douglas H. Lavenberg, who presides over District Court 38-1-10 in Ambler, handling summary offenses and preliminary criminal hearings for Upper Dublin Township. A further hearing is set for September 11. As with all defendants, Brazil is presumed innocent until proven guilty. The article compiling these details was built using public court records.