Police: Upstate NY Woman Used Electric Bug Zapper as a Weapon

A Saratoga County woman is facing charges after authorities say she used an electronic fly swatter (or bug zapper) to injure another individual during a domestic altercation earlier this week.

Deputies from the Saratoga County Sheriff’s Office responded to a disturbance call at a home in Halfmoon shortly before 9 p.m. Monday. Upon arrival, they discovered a person had sustained injuries to their arm after reportedly being struck multiple times with a racket-style bug zapper device.

According to investigators, the swatter featured exposed wires capable of delivering a painful jolt. The victim, whose identity has not been released, was treated at Samaritan Hospital after being transported by Clifton Park-Halfmoon EMS. The extent of the injuries was not disclosed.

The suspect, identified as 35-year-old Jennifer Garland of Halfmoon, was taken into custody at the scene. Authorities allege that the assault was intentional and involved a device considered a dangerous instrument under state law.

Garland now faces a series of charges, including felony second-degree assault, first-degree criminal contempt, aggravated criminal contempt, and fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon—a misdemeanor. Officials also noted the incident involved a violation of an existing order of protection, though they did not elaborate on the relationship between Garland and the victim.

Garland was arraigned in Malta Town Court and is currently being held at the Saratoga County Jail.

While specific details about the fly swatter were not made public, similar electric swatters are widely sold in retail stores and online. These devices, often shaped like tennis rackets, typically emit thousands of volts to neutralize insects.

Halfmoon is situated roughly 17 miles north of Albany in Saratoga County.

[AUTHOR'S NOTE: This post is for informational purposes and is based largely on information received from Police. Regardless of any statements or photographs regarding potential evidence presented or accusations alleged, the reader is reminded that all suspects and/or arrested persons are innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law. At the time of this posting no additional information is available.]

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Gallery Credit: Bill Keeler