​Woman Evaluated After Wielding Knives at South Pasadena Drivers

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

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SOUTH PASADENA – Police de-escalated a tense situation December 3 after a woman was found waving knives at drivers at an intersection.

A resident called police to Mission Street and Orange Grove Avenue around 10:52 p.m. Friday. Officers arrived and saw a woman wielding large kitchen knives in both hands, according to the South Pasadena Police Department.

“Officers quickly identified the female as having a mental health crisis and began using verbal de- escalation techniques. After a lengthy discussion, the officers calmed the woman, convincing her to drop the knives,” according to the South Pasadena Police Department in a written statement.

The woman was hospitalized for a psychiatric evaluation.

“The officers used the utmost restraint in this incident, preventing a use of force,” according to South Pasadena Police Chief Brian Solinsky in a written statement. “There is no guarantee in situations like this; however, officers train regularly in de- escalation and identifying those experiencing a mental health crisis. This is a prime example of why law enforcement cannot be removed entirely from the equation when responding to a mental health crisis,” Solinsky said.