MADISON, WI – The Madison Police Department successfully de-escalated an encounter between themselves and a distraught woman walking near the lake on Waunona Woods Court. The woman told witnesses she wanted to stab somebody.
“Yesterday afternoon, officers were sent to check on a 28-year-old woman who had a large knife, walking outside towards the lake on Waunona Woods Ct, stating she was going to stab someone. Officers were able to contact the woman from a distance in attempt to de-escalate her behavior,” police said.
During the dialogue in near zero-degree weather, the woman made many references that she wanted police to “come shoot her”.
After about 20 minutes of various dialog and de-escalation techniques, officers were able to convince the woman to drop what later was determined to be a 12″ metal knife sharper, and safely took her into custody. The woman was taken to a local hospital for a mental health evaluation.