Knife-waving woman in serious condition after Tasering

June 2, 2009
By Kelly Sinoski, Vancouver Sun

VANCOUVER — A 55-year-old Vancouver woman is in serious condition in hospital after she was Tasered by police and struck her head while falling to the ground.

Vancouver police said they first encountered the distraught woman waving a large knife on East Hastings Street about 11:30 a.m. Tuesday. Police said officers repeatedly told the woman to drop the knife while directing pedestrians away from her. The woman then swore at police and challenged them to shoot her, Const. Jana McGuinness said in a statement.

Officers had to step back as the woman came toward them aggressively. The standoff continued until a man in the crowd ran at the woman and grabbed at her arm, ignoring police calls to stop. Fearing for the man’s safety, officers fired the Taser at the woman, police said.