CHP Officers Pursue Woman With Possible Mental Health Issues

MONTEREY COUNTY, CA — California Highway Patrol officers in Monterey County on Tuesday evening pursued a vehicle driven by an elderly woman they suspect had mental health issues. At 6:35 p.m., a state Fish and Wildlife warden was traveling south on U.S. Highway 101 near San Miguel Road when he observed a 2008 GMC Envoy tailgating him from behind, CHP officials said.

The warden activated his vehicle's patrol lights to warn the driver, later identified as 78-year-old Genevieve Demings. Demings changed lanes and passed the patrol vehicle before cutting it off. The officer tried to pull her over, but she did not yield because, as she would later explain, she did not believe it was a real law enforcement vehicle, CHP officials said.

Demings continued driving south on Highway 101, exited on state Highway 156, and eventually ended up on southbound state Highway 1, where CHP officers took over the pursuit. Demings continued south on Highway 1, exited at the exit to Soledad Drive and Munras Avenue and stopped at a red light at the first intersection. That's when CHP officers exited their vehicles and ordered Demings to exit hers, CHP officials said.

Demings allegedly refused to get out and when the traffic signal turned green, she continued driving until stopping and parking at her destination at 92 Soledad Drive. According to the CHP, Demings said she did not stop because she was late for a meeting at 7 p.m., which was more important than pulling over for authorities.

CHP officials said that drugs and alcohol were not involved in the incident, but they do suspect that a possible mental health issue played a role. As a result, Demings' license was seized and she was referred to the
Department of Motor Vehicles for a priority evaluation. Demings was not arrested at the scene. However, CHP officials said they will recommend that the Monterey County District Attorney's Office charge her with misdemeanor evading.

By Bay City News

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