Woman allegedly threatened neighbor with plunger over offensive odor

A Massachusetts woman upset by a foul odor emanating from her neighbor's house is in hot water after allegedly threatening to hit the neighbor with a plunger. In Lowell District Court on Monday, Irene Cohen, 44, was released on personal recognizance after pleading not guilty to assault with a dangerous weapon.

Lowell police stated in court documents that at 6:31pm  they were called to a report of an argument between neighbors. When police arrived, a female neighbor allegedly told police Cohen attacked her with a plunger. The neighbor said Cohen was angry due to the foul odor caused by some plumbing work.

During a confrontation with the victim, Cohen allegedly began to yell at her and spit in her face, then picked up the plunger, raised it above her head, and threatened to hit her with it. The victim described Cohen as "wildly out of control." The victim ran back inside her house for fear of being hit.

Cohen allegedly admitted to police she argued with the victim over a foul odor Cohen believed was her neighbor's fault. Cohen alleges that during the argument, the victim spit in Cohen's face and called her a racist name. Cohen denied using a plunger, which police noted was leaning against the fence next to Cohen. She told police she picked up the plunger to move it, but never used it in a threatening way. The victim denied spitting in Cohen's face.