When Irina Bogacheva makes a beer run, this Olympian takes it seriously. Authorities said the three-time Olympic marathon runner was arrested over the weekend after she bit a police officer in Gainesville.
Gainesville police say Officer Juan DeCastro picked up Bogacheva, 48, on Saturday in a convenience store trying to buy liquor. Bogacheva was reportedly intoxicated at the time.
Bogacheva represented Kyrgyzstan in the 1996, 2000 and 2004 summer Olympics, finishing as high as 14th in the marathon. As the officer was putting her in the back of his patrol car, she grabbed his radio. When he tried to get her off the radio, Bogacheva bit his hand, and he arrested her.
Maybe she was trying to call back to her home country for help or simply warning her local buddies that she might be a little late bringing back that six pack.
Bogacheva is charged with battery of a law enforcement officer and resisting without violence. She was released Monday afternoon on bail.