Woman in crisis rammed police vehicles, taken to hospital for treatment

Photo: Jon Manchester

A large police presence on Tronson Road Wednesday evening saw Vernon RCMP apprehend a woman who rammed police vehicles while suffering a mental health crisis.

Vernon RCMP spokesperson Const. Chris Terleski says police were called to help locate the woman.

Shortly before 5 p.m., an officer located her in a vehicle on the driveway of a residence on Tronson Road.

"Officers approached the woman and began to communicate with her. Despite continued efforts to de-escalate the situation, the woman tried to escape by driving into the police vehicles that had been positioned to prevent her from leaving," says Terleski.

"Recognizing the risk the woman's behaviour posed to the safety of the public, police, and herself, an officer broke a passenger side window to gain access to the vehicle. After a brief struggle, the woman was safely apprehended under the Mental Health Act and transported to hospital for treatment."

Terleski says the primary goal in such an intervention "is for a safe resolution."

"The quick action by the responding officers allowed this situation to be resolved safely and prevented anyone from being injured."