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Knife-wielding woman tries to break into locked nursery at B.C. hospital

Police say the woman was “uncontrollable and violent.”
womens
B.C. Women's Hospital entrance on Sept. 22 2022

A tense situation unfolded at a B.C. hospital where a woman was allegedly trying to break into a locked nursery with a knife.

Vancouver Police responded to BC Women’s Hospital at about 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, Sept. 22, for a patient that was “uncontrollable and violent.”

Staff at the hospital called the police after the patient chased a doctor who was forced to flee to a safe place.

“Her behaviour was putting other people in danger,” says VPD Sgt. Steve Addison.

The woman was also reported screaming and threatening staff during the incident.

“Staff barricaded themselves in a room with babies as the woman walked around the ward with a weapon,” says Addison. “It was also reported that she was trying to break into the nursery with a knife and that she had lunged at a staff member with a weapon in her hand.”

Vancouver Police sent officers and crisis negotiators to the hospital and a “shelter-in-place” was activated until police could arrive.

“There was an imminent threat to staff members, babies, and members of the public,” says Addison. “The woman posed a risk to herself and others.”

Vancouver Police say once their officers were inside the hospital they were not able to get close enough to apprehend the woman by hand — instead, they subdued the woman with a beanbag shotgun.

Addison explains a beanbag shotgun is similar to a police baton strike.

She was taken into custody without serious injuries, according to police.

“The actions of our officers safely resolved a volatile and terrifying situation without injury to innocent people,” he says.

No staff members, patients or members of the public were injured or hurt during this incident.

The woman was arrested for possession of a weapon, assault, and breach of probation.