PONTIAC (WWJ) -- Charges have been handed to a Pontiac woman who allegedly assaulted a city council member and used racial slurs against her.
The suspect, 61-year-old Sherry Simon, was arraigned on Wednesday at 50th District Court in Pontiac on assault and ethnic intimidation charges.
The charges come a week after the incident reportedly happened around 7:45 p.m. at North Saginaw and West Lawrence in Pontiac following a meeting about supporting downtown businesses.
Pontiac City Council member Melanie Rutherford was walking to her car when she observed a woman yelling obscenities in the parking lot, according to The Detroit News.
When Rutherford asked the woman if she was alright, the woman then began to approach her, at which time Rutherford called the sheriff's office to report a person in crisis.
Rutherford says the woman then yelled a racial slur at her and punched her in the head. When another woman leaving the meeting attempted to intervene, she was also reportedly attacked.
As the situation broke up, the suspect then headed into a nearby cafe, where sheriff’s deputies later found Simon, who matched the description, and arrested her.
Rutherford, a mental health advocate, says she is not trying to get Simon into legal trouble, but instead would like to see her get the help she needs.
Simon will be back in court next Thursday, Oct. 5 for another hearing.