(February 8, 2004) -- LBPD safely handled a volatile situation that stretched from late afternoon through early evening on Feb. 8 in the area of 5th St. and Cherry Ave.

LBPD Public Information Officer Sgt. Paul LeBaron says police learned that a woman with mental illnesses allegedly committed an assault with a deadly weapon on her sister who lived with her, then barricaded herself armed with a knife.

LBPD was able to call on its available resources, including its Mental Evaluation Team and SWAT team.

The situation sounds simple...but is actually very tense because at any moment it could spiral out of control if (hypothetically) the woman appeared to charge an officer with the knife or made a threatening move that could prompt a forceful defensive response.

LBPD was able to let the situation run its course over time...and made a successful recovery of the woman without any injury.