Bethel, Judge.Following an extended outburst during which she expressed suicidal ideation, Sommer Marie Copley spat on a police officer and resisted arrest, Copley was convicted of two counts of obstruction. She now appeals arguing that her convictions should not stand because police were not lawfully discharging their official duties when they arrested her and because police did not comply with OCGA § 37-3-41, which sets forth provisions for taking an individual into custody for involuntary mental health treatment. We disagree because the police were lawfully discharging their official duty to maintain the peace and the provisions of OCGA § 37-3-41 did not apply to police in this instance. Accordingly, we affirm Copley’s convictions. “On appeal from a criminal conviction, the evidence is viewed in the light most favorable to the verdict, and the defendant no longer enjoys the presumption of innocence.” State v. Robinson, 275 Ga. App. 117, 117 (619 SE2d 806) (2005) (citation omitted). So viewed, the record shows that police officers responded to a 911 call from Copley’s parents. Copley, who resided with her parents, was threatening to kill herself. After arriving at the house, several officers entered a bedroom where Copley could be heard screaming. The officers attempted to calm Copley, who was screaming, cursing, and attempting to find a way to kill herself. Copley ultimately grabbed a pill bottle that did not have a lid and “shot it like a glass of liquor.” Officers, who were unfamiliar with the contents of the bottle, attempted to grab Copley’s hand and the bottle and detained Copley on the bed. Copley then spat a large quantity of spit into the mouth, eyes, and face of one of the officers and screamed “[H]ow does that f[**]king taste, pig?” Another officer then told Copley that she was under arrest and instructed her to stop resisting and to place her hands behind her back. Copley, however, continued to resist and attempted to spit on officers once more. Finally, officers were able to handcuff and secure Copley, who was then transported to a medical facility. Copley was later indicted on one count misdemeanor obstruction and one count felony obstruction and following a jury trial, was found guilty on both counts. This appeal followed.1. Copley argues the trial court erred in denying her motion for a new trial because the evidence was insufficient to show that she obstructed a law enforcement officer in the lawful discharge of his duties. We disagree.Under OCGA § 16-10-24 (a), “a person who knowingly and willfully obstructs or hinders any law enforcement officer . . . in the lawful discharge of his official duties” is guilty of misdemeanor obstruction. Obstruction becomes a felony where a person engages in this behavior and offers or does “violence to the person of such officer.” OCGA § 16-10-24 (b).Obstruction of the police in performing their lawful duty includes any act that directly interferes with, impedes, interrupts, or prevents or perverts the public administration of justice. Offering or doing violence to a law enforcement officer includes threats of violence, battery, and assault aimed at the officer.
