South Pasadena police disarm mentally disturbed woman brandishing gardening shears


SOUTH PASADENA >> Police disarmed and detained a mentally disturbed woman Wednesday after she threatened to harm herself, then the officers, with a pair of gardening shears, officials said.
Officers first responded about 2:40 p.m. to the 600 block of Fair Oaks Avenue, just south of the 110 Freeway, after receiving reports of a woman walking down the street while screaming and acting violently, Pasadena police Sgt. Brian Solinsky said in a written statement. She was holding a pair of shears.
“Several officers responded and attempted to calm the woman, but were unsuccessful,” Solinsky said. “The woman grew more agitated and aggressive by the second, changing from holding the shears near her neck to pointing them at the officers and keeping them at bay.”
Officers managed to distract the woman long enough to allow another officer to rush up behind the woman, grab her arms and knock the shears away from her, the sergeant said.
Officials took the woman, 33, to a hospital for evaluation and treatment, he said. The sergeant praised the work of the officers in bringing the tense situation to a peaceful end.
“The officers showed amazing restraint in an incident that presented various tactical and officer safety dilemmas,” Solinsky said. “The officers were able to stop the woman before hurting herself or anyone else.”

Facebook Twitter Reddit Tumblr Linkedin Email

One thought on “South Pasadena police disarm mentally disturbed woman brandishing gardening shears

Comments are closed.