Armed Texas woman sat in lawn chair on busy highway during hours-long standoff with police

An armed woman caused a commotion on a busy Texas highway when she sat in a lawn chair in the middle of the road, leading to a tense standoff with law enforcement. The incident took place on I-45 South in Spring, Texas, after the woman was involved in a crash with an 18-wheeler. Despite the collision, both the woman and the truck driver emerged unscathed.

Following the crash, the woman exited her vehicle and sat in the middle of the highway with a handgun, refusing to drop the weapon. Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez described the situation as delicate, as the woman was expressing suicidal thoughts and showing signs of mental illness.

Law enforcement shut down traffic in both directions for five hours as they attempted to negotiate with the woman. Crisis Intervention Response Team members were called to the scene, along with the woman’s daughter. The sheriff allowed the woman to speak with her daughter to assure her safety, which helped calm the situation.

After hours of standoff, the woman eventually surrendered and was taken into custody. She was then transported to a hospital for evaluation. The sheriff emphasized the importance of handling mental health crises with sensitivity and understanding.

The incident serves as a reminder of the challenges faced by law enforcement when dealing with individuals in crisis. It also highlights the need for proper training and resources to address mental health issues in the community. Ultimately, the successful resolution of the standoff was a testament to the collaborative efforts of law enforcement and crisis intervention teams.