Woman wanted for car theft wounded in Chilliwack police shooting
Last Updated: Friday, May 8, 2009 | 8:16 PM PT
CBC News
This unmarked police vehicle was rammed when a wounded woman driving an SUV attempted to flee apprehension at a Chilliwack, B.C., mall. (CBC) A woman described as one of B.C.'s top 10 car thieves was shot by police in Chilliwack Friday as she tried to avoid arrest by ramming a stolen SUV into two police vehicles.
Cassandra Lee Rowell, 28, suffered several gunshot wounds and was taken to hospital, RCMP Cpl. Peter Thiessen said. Her condition was not known.
Rowell was wanted in Ridge Meadows in nine cases of possession of stolen property and for personation and fraud. Police said she had attempted to run over police officers in the past.
Friday's shooting occurred at about 12:45 p.m. in the parking lot of a shopping mall near Promontory Road and Vedder Road.
"Our intelligence led us to this parking lot, where they [officers] attempted to secure her arrest while she was in a stolen vehicle," Thiessen said.
Cassandra Rowell, 28, was wanted by police for possession of stolen property, personation and fraud. (Integrated Municipal Provincial Auto Crime Team) Thiessen said officers had observed the stolen vehicle from a distance as it was driven around the city, but they did not initiate a police chase.
When the arrest was attempted, the suspect rammed her beige SUV into two unmarked police vehicles "to flee and avoid apprehension," he said.
Witnesses said some police officers came out of a grey SUV — one of the two that were hit — and at least three shots were fired.
"A decision was made to discharge a firearm. Part of the investigation will determine why that occurred," Thiessen said.
Witnesses said the driver of the beige SUV managed to steer the vehicle out of the parking lot and fled the scene.
The beige SUV finally pulled over at a location about 10 blocks from the shopping mall. The female driver and a 23-year-old man were taken by police, Thiessen said.
There were no other reported injuries in the incident.
Two local elementary schools were reportedly locked down briefly and students were allowed to go home afterwards.
