Woman went on ‘rampage' in car through downtown Boston, striking two officers, other cars, police report says

Boston Globe

2 days ago

The 'concerned citizen' told officers the driver had struck his bumper and then tried to flee the scene without providing information, the report said.
It said the officers also observed the suspect vehicle, a 2022 black Honda Passport, as well as a 'white female in the driver's seat.'
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According to the report, the officers approached the Honda and issued multiple orders for the driver to stop and put the vehicle in park.
But she refused, police said.
'The suspect then placed the vehicle in drive' while a female officer identified in the report only as Officer Barry 'was still reaching in the driver's side window' to try to obtain the keys and turn off the vehicle, the report said.
Barry was dragged about 20 feet as the woman 'suddenly hit the accelerator,' the report said, and the officer was later evaluated at the downtown station for 'discomfort in her right arm.'
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Meanwhile, the report said, another officer spotted the Honda moving towards him at Tremont and Park streets.
Passing drivers told the second officer, identified in the report only as Officer Saintfort, that the woman had just struck multiple vehicles as well as a police officer, the report said.
It said that as Saintfort was 'attempting to extricate the suspect from the motor vehicle the suspect again pressed the accelerator, causing Officer Saintfort to have to move back in fear of being struck by the motor vehicle. Officer Saintfort was physically holding the driver when she was fleeing and was in contact with the vehicle as it fled.'
Saintfort was evaluated at Tufts Medical Center.
And dispatch informed police that the Honda had 'struck a traffic pole at Herald Street and Shawmut Avenue, continuing towards the highway,' the report said.
Police said officers were 'finally able to locate' the Honda on Albany Street, where it had substantial front end damage, its airbags had deployed, and 'the front two wheels were bare to the metal rim having discarded the tires,' the report said.
The woman was arrested after turning the vehicle onto Plympton Street, the report said, and officers learned she had a suspended driver's license.
In addition, police said, the woman's pupils were 'constricted' and she appeared to be 'sweating profusely and highly animated.'
Another witness told police he'd earlier been preparing to turn his Honda Civic onto Mass. Ave., when he spotted the Honda 'driving towards him' with two flat tires, the report said. He told police he was concerned the driver might be having a medical emergency, so he decided to follow the SUV in his vehicle while dialing 911.
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At the time, the witness told police, the SUV was moving with a 'disregard for everything' and 'hitting everything but the lottery,' including curbs and parking meters.
The witness also reporting seeing 'pedestrians 'in terror' and jumping out of the way as well as drivers attempting' to evade the Honda, the report said.
The witness said he drove his vehicle in front of the Honda and blocked its path.
'He approached her vehicle and observed that her eyes were 'manic' and she was 'screaming bloody murder,' telling him to [expletive] himself, and telling him to get out of her way,' the report said.
Someone also got behind the Honda and tried to signal it to stop, according to the report. It wasn't clear from the redactions if it was the same person or a different witness.
But at any rate, the Honda allegedly ''gunned it' in reverse,' prompting the Good Samaritan to 'jump out of the way,' the report said.
Police later learned the Honda driver had earlier struck an Uber driver's vehicle on Albany Street, and that the Uber passenger suffered head, neck, and knee injuries that sent her to an area hospital for evaluation, the report said.
Inside the Honda, police found 'multiple crumpled $20 dollar bills in the driver's seat,' as well as 'more crumpled dollar bills in the rear and passenger side floorwell.'
Suspected drugs and related paraphernalia were also seized, police said.
'Officers located one folded US Currency $1 Dollar Bill in her wallet which contained a small orange straw with a white powder residue,' the report said.
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Cops also recovered a silver tin containing 'two medium plastic bags of a brown powdery substance believed to be fentanyl, and two small plastic bags of a rock-like substance believed to be crack. Officers also found a bottle believed to contain methadone.'
The suspected fentanyl weighed about four grams and the suspected crack weighed about two grams, police said.
Once medically cleared, the woman will face a slew of charges including assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, assault and battery on a police officer, resisting arrest, failure to stop or yield, destruction of property, leaving the scene of property damage, leaving the scene of personal injury, drugged driving fourth offense, driving with a suspended license, drug possession, and drug possession to distribute, the report said.
An arraignment date hasn't been scheduled.
'It should be noted that [redcated's] rampage through the city generated multiple calls for service ... approximately ten 911 calls, and a multi-agency search for her in order to prevent more damage and or injury.'
Police said multiple witnesses observed the woman 'driving erratically, almost striking pedestrians, [and] striking multiple motor vehicles.'
This story will be updated when more information is released.
Travis Andersen can be reached at