Man charged with attempted murder in spitting

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — Alaska authorities say 29-year old man with a contagious disease is charged with attempted murder after he spit on a hospital worker.

A corrections official says Andre LaFrance of Wasilla has hepatitis C and is being held in solitary confinement and on a suicide watch at the Mat-Su Pretrial Facility in Palmer.

Corrections Sgt. Walter Erickson says LaFrance is “very very unstable.”

Charges filed today against LaFrance also include harassment.

State troopers were notified Monday morning after the assault at Mat-Su Regional Medical Center. Troopers say LaFrance “intentionally transferred a dangerous bodily fluid” onto the worker.

Bail initially was set at $50,000. Erickson says it has since been reduced to $2,500.

Charging documents are not immediately available.