Police say a 28-year-old woman was in ‘obvious medical distress’ earlier this month in connection to an incident involving a group of schoolchildren attempting to cross the road in Sarnia.
On March 4, Sarnia Police officers responded to a call for an unwanted person in the area of 180 College Ave. N, where a group of youth were looking to cross from London Road School to the Boys & Girls Club of Sarnia-Lambton after-school program at the Lochiel Kiwanis Centre.
“As the group was waiting to cross, a female, behaving erratically, ran onto the road and started to direct the group to cross,” police said in a news release. “As the group was crossing the road, the female approached them and grabbed one of the youths, causing scratches.
Police say staff quickly intervened and called the Sarnia Police Service. The victim did not need medical assistance, and the suspect was not known to anyone involved.
Officers obtained a description of the suspect, searched the area, and located her nearby.
“Police observed her to be in obvious medical distress for which she was apprehended by police and taken to a medical facility for treatment,” police added. “It is believed that her medical state observed at the time was a contributing factor in the erratic behaviour and earlier assault.”
She was released from police custody for necessary medical treatment and the SPS Criminal Investigations Division was assigned to continue the investigation of the earlier assault.
Police identified the suspect, a 28-years-old from Sarnia. On March 12, she was placed under arrest for the criminal matters and released with conditions on the following charges:
- 1 count of – CC 266 – Adult Assault
- 1 count of – CC 733.1(1) Adult Fail to comply with Probation Order
“Investigators believe this assault was an isolated incident, not planned nor targeted,” police added. “The accused in this matter was involved in other nearby incidents on that same date, consistently demonstrating the same erratic and irrational behaviour.”