Woman rams police cars, prompts standoff and preschool lockdown in Fresno

FRESNO, Calif. (FOX26) — A woman is in custody after ramming some police vehicles and causing a standoff in Fresno on Tuesday.

It started when police responded to the AM/PM at Kings Canyon and Winery for the report of a woman unconscious in her vehicle at one of the gas pumps.

Officers arrived and contacted the woman who woke up.

The officer believed the woman was under the influence of a controlled substance when a syringe was seen in the front seat and by the actions of the woman.

The officer asked the woman to get out of the car to conduct a sobriety test but she refused to get out and instead drove out of the parking lot.

She was traveling eastbound on Balch Avenue and the officer saw a school bus traveling westbound toward the woman, so for the safety of the children, the officer drove in front of the vehicle to cut her off.

She did not stop but rammed the police cruiser.

She then put the car in reverse, rammed another police cruiser behind her, and continued going forward and back, hitting them multiple times until her car became disabled.

Police tried to get her to come out of the car but she refused.

A crisis negotiator was called to the scene and at one point she brandished a large knife from inside the car.

The crisis negotiator got her to surrender just before 3:00 p.m. and she was taken into custody.

She will be booked into the Fresno County Jail on DUI and assault charges.

A school was briefly locked down.

There were no injuries.