Sarnia Police Service officials allege: A woman arrested in connection with a car wash crash in Sarnia last week is facing additional charges following an incident in police custody.
On October 24 at 5:40 p.m., the accused was located by Anishinabek Police and arrested for the original incident. She was transported and turned over to the Sarnia Police Service (SPS) for processing and held overnight for bail.
While still in police custody on Saturday, October 25, and awaiting a bail hearing, the woman was provided with breakfast. At 7:38 a.m., a Special Constable attended her cell to provide a bottle of water when she allegedly lunged at the officer in what police described as a “sudden and unprovoked attack.”
A physical confrontation ensued, triggering a facility alarm. The Special Constable was able to bring the woman to the ground until additional officers arrived. Police say the woman sustained minor lacerations to her head after contact with the floor. The Special Constable’s police radio was ripped from her vest but she was not injured.
After receiving medical treatment at hospital, the woman was returned to SPS custody and later charged with assaulting a peace officer and mischief under $5,000. Following a bail hearing, she was released by the courts with conditions.
“Prisoner care and control is an area of high risk for all police services,” said Sarnia Police Chief Derek Davis. “Police Services are responsible for ensuring the health and well-being of persons in custody, as well as the safety of police personnel tasked with prisoner handling. This is achieved through training, proper equipment, and with adequate and effective facilities.
“While the SPS has recently made several needed improvements within the custody areas, long-term solutions to our facility challenges are still being sought—e.g. pass-through openings that eliminate the need to open cell doors. I am relieved the officer was able to respond to this sudden attack so effectively and that none of our officers were hurt in resolving this incident.”
Video of the incident is available on the SPS Facebook page.
