San Rafael, CA – On Monday, March 30, 2020, a woman who had harmed herself with a knife kept police at bay for five hours which caused the area of Francisco Boulevard East and Medway Road to be shut down.  The woman was eventually distracted from the knife and taken into custody and placed on a mental health hold for evaluation.

At 12:15 PM, SRPD Dispatchers received a 9-1-1 call that a woman had harmed herself with a knife in the 700-block of Francisco Boulevard East.  Officers and the fire department were called to the scene to render aid.

Upon arrival, the woman fled to a nearby parking lot close to the intersection of Medway Road and Francisco Boulevard East. 

Officers observed the woman bleeding and in possession of two large kitchen knives.  Officers attempted to get the woman to drop the knives but she refused and at one point advanced towards officers where they were forced to use a less than lethal bean bag shotgun to stop her advance.  The woman retreated and barricaded herself in front of a closed business entryway.  Officers continued to try and de-escalate the incident by trying to convince the woman to drop the knives but she refused.  The surrounding area was immediately closed down to protect the public.

The San Rafael and Novato Regional Crisis Negotiations Team (CNT) was called to the scene.  CNT members negotiated with the woman for close to five hours trying to get her to voluntarily surrender and accept assistance.  At one point, CNT members were able to negotiate with the woman to throw one of the knives away for a cigarette. 

Just before 5:00 PM, the woman was distracted from the second knife and officers were able to rush in and apprehend her without further incident.  The woman was taken into custody and placed on a mental health hold for evaluation.  She was also treated for her injuries which were not life-threatening.

At 5:15 PM, Francisco Boulevard East and Medway Road was re-opened to traffic.  The identity of the woman is not being released since she was placed on a mental health hold.