Woman suspected of assaulting fire personnel, crashing into fire and police vehicles in Gardena

GARDENA — A 36-year-old woman suspected of physically assaulting Los Angeles County Fire Department personnel as they assisted her after an altercation with a man Wednesday was taken into custody.

Officers responded to the 2600 block of Manhattan Beach Boulevard, between Crenshaw Boulevard and Van Ness Avenue, around 1 p.m. Wednesday regarding a report of a physical dispute involving Los Angeles County Fire Department personnel, according to the Gardena Police Department.

Investigators later determined the suspect to be a 36-year-old Inglewood resident.

“Minutes before the arrival of Gardena police officers, Los Angeles County fire personnel saw (the woman) in an altercation with an unknown male. They stopped to assist her. While sitting in their vehicle and talking to her, (the woman) became irate, physically hitting the firefighter and fleeing the scene,” police said in a statement.

The woman had briefly left the area before officers, who happened to be driving by, pulled over to assist the fire personnel moments before she returned.

The officers attempted to negotiate with her, but she fled again, prompting a vehicle pursuit.

“While driving west on Manhattan Beach Boulevard, (the woman) collided with a Gardena police undercover vehicle and a Los Angeles County fire SUV,” police said.

The woman was booked on suspicion of assault on a firefighter/EMT, assault with a deadly weapon and driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol.