Driver puts cop in hospital: 8 to 10 shots fired
Date: Oct 13, 2006 11:19 AM
PUBLICATION: The Province
DATE: 2006.10.13
EDITION: Final
SECTION: News
PAGE: A4
BYLINE: Ian Austin and Glenda Luymes
SOURCE: The Province
WORD COUNT: 241

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Driver puts cop in hospital: Mounties finally nail woman who wouldn’t
give up

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A Ridge Meadows RCMP officer was hospitalized after a young woman
fleeing police tried to run him down in a stolen car.

Police fired nearly a dozen shots after a high-speed chase before
finally halting the vehicle.

The incident began when police received calls about a car being driven
erratically along Lougheed Highway about 6 p.m. Wednesday.

Two officers pulled over the 2001 Nissan Sentra with stolen plates, but
as they approached the driver she put the car in reverse, rammed into
the police cruiser, and took off.

“We didn’t know whether to pursue,” said Ridge Meadows RCMP spokesman
Dan Herbranson.

“We didn’t know what state of mind she was in.

“We made a decision to get this car off the streets.”

With the police in pursuit, the woman drove into a driveway near the
corner of 249th Street and 110th Avenue.

“I was watching the 6 o’clock news when someone hit the road sign
outside,” said Sharon Murphy, who lives on 249th Street.

“I heard a bang and screeching tires and sirens. I looked out my window
and saw three police cars driving down that driveway.”

Herbranson said the woman wouldn’t give up, and turned the car around
with mayhem on her mind.

“One RCMP member was struck by the suspect’s vehicle, and the car then
manoeuvred around and started to head toward the second member,” he
said.

“The two police officers drew their service pistols and fired a number
of rounds, which resulted in the vehicle stopping and the driver being
taken into custody.”

Murphy heard eight to 10 shots.

“Five more police cars followed, and I heard gunfire,” she said.

“I heard a woman screaming and yelling. They had her handcuffed, and
were putting her in the back of the police car.

“There were 11 cop cars parked on the road. I think that must have been
the entire Maple Ridge detachment.”

The injured officer was taken to hospital, treated, and released.

Charged with two counts of assaulting a police officer, possessing a
stolen car, possessing stolen licence plates, dangerous driving and
failing to stop for police is Cassandra Rowell, 26, of Maple Ridge.