Police Standoff Finally Ends Hours After Armed Woman Barricades Herself In Car
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MIAMI (CBSMiami) - A traffic stop in Miami turned into an armed standoff Tuesday morning with a police SWAT team.
Miami police said around 9 a.m. an officer noticed car at 21st Street and N Miami Court in Wynwood that had apparently been there for several weeks.
When he walked up to it, he noticed a woman, described as being in her 40s to 50s, inside.
"As he started talking to her, he discovered a gun. He immediately backed off and he called for more officers and that's why we have a perimeter here," said police Commander Freddie Cruz.
When he tried to speak with the woman, she reportedly slammed the door on him and said the gun was for her protection. She then refused to cooperate. She then barricaded herself inside.
"We do know she made a statement that it was for her protection. The gun. Again, we don't know why she had the gun. Did she intend to use it on herself or any officers? That's up in the air. We are here not only for the safety of the officers but for the community," said Cruz.
Officers and negotiators spent hours talking with the woman trying to diffuse this situation.
"The information we have is that she has been rolling down her window a few times to get air. Our officers are in contact with her. They are speaking to her periodically offering her food and water. The safety is paramount at this point," said Cruz.
A SWAT team was called in as was Miami Fire Rescue as a precaution. The police do not intend to rush the situation.
"We want a safe resolution. Time is on our side. We have lots of patience. We are here as long as it takes. We want the young lady to come out with the gun. We want to get her the help she needs. At the end of the day we don't want her to get hurt. We have all the resources here," said Cruz.
The standoff finally ended around 10 p.m.
The woman was transported to Jackson Memorial Hospital for evaluation.
"We needed to break in a window, saw she was ok. We were able to have her come out of the vehicle and at the current moment she is getting the help that she needs," said Cruz. "That is what we wanted. A safe resolution. No one was hurt she will be evacuated by doctors."
Police asked the public to avoid the area of North Miami Avenue through NW 1 Avenue between 20th & 23rd Street until the situation was resolved.
