By Sarah Roebuck
Police1
BELLMORE, N.Y. — A Nassau County police officer disarmed and arrested a woman who fired a loaded gun in broad daylight by knocking her over with his cruiser, CBS New York reports.
The woman was spotted pointing a gun in the middle of an intersection, firing at least one shot and pointing the weapon at her head.
“She was waving the gun around at innocent people, putting them in fear for their lives,” Nassau Police Commissioner Patrick Ryder said during a news conference.
Caught on bystander video, the officer who responded to the scene made a split-second decision to use his cruiser to disarm the woman.
“They faced down deadly physical force against civilians and themselves, and they used their vehicle to stop that threat,” Ryder said. “The other option on the table is to take out the gun and shoot her. They didn’t do that. They chose an alternative option that they thought quickly to react and probably saved people’s lives, including their own, from any further injuries.”
According to Nassau Police, a semi-automatic handgun was retrieved. The woman is in police custody and is currently receiving treatment for minor injuries at a local medical facility. The officer involved in the incident is also undergoing treatment for emotional trauma at a different hospital.
“He did a great job. He’s our hero of the day,” Ryder said.