RCMP STATEMENT
Smithers RCMP responded to a report of a domestic disturbance early Sunday morning in Smithers, where a 42-year-old New Hazelton woman was stabbed and suffered non-life threatening injuries. The woman's partner then barricaded herself in the residence allegedly armed with a rifle and a knife. The 39-year-old Smithers woman later surrendered to RCMP critical incident negotiators 6 and a half hours later.
The details are as follows.
On July 18 at approximately 5:45 a.m. the Smithers RCMP Detachment responded to report of a domestic disturbance in the 3000 block of Second Ave in Smithers. A 42-year-old female from New Hazelton received a stab wound to the hand and was taken to the Bulkley Valley District Hospital where she was treated for non-life threatening injuries.
The woman's partner then barricaded herself in the residence with a rifle and a knife. The 39-year-old Smithers woman was extremely distraught and refused to cooperate with police.
Smithers RCMP took precautionary measures to ensure neighboring residents were safe by blocking off the immediate area around the residence and surrounding neighborhood. Additional resources from the RCMP North District Emergency Response Team and critical incident negotiators arrived in Smithers and with their help, the woman surrendered to police without further incident.
"We maintained communication with her for several hours, with the stand off successfully ending after 6 and a half hours of dialog between RCMP negotiators and the woman," said RCMP spokesman Cpl. Dan Moskaluk. "We are relieved that we were successful in arresting her without further incidents or injuries to the public, the (RCMP) members and the subject."
Smithers RCMP are continuing their investigation into this incident. No further details are being released at this time.
