We're learning more about an incident Tuesday evening in the Village of Munnsville in which State Police say a woman attacked several people before going into cardiac arrest and later dying. Police say bath salts are likely to blame. Our Sarah Blazonis has more.

  To view our videos, you need to
enable JavaScript. Learn how.
install Adobe Flash 9 or above. Install now.

Then come back here and refresh the page.

MADISON COUNTY, N.Y. -- State Police have released new details about the death of a Munnsville woman who died in their custody Tuesday night.

Troopers say Pamela McCarthy, 35, was apparently high on bath salts when she took her three-year-old son outside of their apartment on North Main Street and started choking and hitting him. Neighbors saw what was happening and intervened.

At that point, McCarthy followed a neighbor into her apartment and started attacking her.
The child's father, who lives nearby, got his son to safety while McCarthy was inside.

Police say when the first officer arrived, McCarthy had disrobed and was continuing to act disorderly. The officer tried pepper spray, but which was ineffective, then deployed a taser, which didn't stick. He wound up taking the taser itself and applying it directly to her, which allowed him to put her in handcuffs.

Troopers say McCarthy went into cardiac arrest as a second ambulance arrived and died at the hospital. They are awaiting toxicology reports to determine the exact cause and manner of death, but say she had a criminal history and was known to use bath salts.

"We have responded there in the past while she was under the influence of bath salts. Transported her for treatment over at Oneida Healthcare," said Troop D Commander Major Rodney Campbell.

State Police say McCarthy had been charged in a similar incident in the past.

Her three-year-old was treated at Upstate University Hospital for minor injuries and has been released to family members.

State Police held a press conference Wednesday afternoon where they released more information on the woman who died in their custody Tuesday night. You can watch the entire press conference below.

  To view our videos, you need to
enable JavaScript. Learn how.
install Adobe Flash 9 or above. Install now.

Then come back here and refresh the page.