BRIEF: 72-year-old mentally ill woman charged with assaulting Bainbridge police officer

Oct. 07--PORT ORCHARD -- A 72-year-old Bainbridge Island woman who had walked onto her neighbor's property Saturday to rant about their trees was charged Monday with felony assault for scratching and hitting a police officer.

Officers were called to the 6100 block of Lynwood Center Road after the 72-year-old alarmed neighbors by walking onto their property and yelling, according to reports. The suspect likely suffers from mental illness, the report said.

Two officers went to the woman's residence and confronted her about trespassing. The 72-year-old, described as 5 feet 9 inches and weighing 140 pounds, became belligerent and "started posturing in a fighting stance," the officer wrote.

The officer wrote that she attempted to use a Taser, "which had no effect." The two officers then "took her to the ground," where she continued to struggle, the officer wrote.

The suspect was charged with third-degree assault and was listed as lodged Monday evening in the Kitsap County Jail.

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