Stabbing victim remains in hospital

2/13/2013

By MIKE CORN

mcorn@dailynews.net

Twelve minutes after receiving a report of a woman who was threatening to harm herself in the lobby of High Plains Mental Health Center, the individual was on her way to Hays Medical Center.

The woman, identified only as a 42-year-old Russell resident, apparently stabbed herself in the abdomen multiple times Monday, according to Hays Police Lt. Brandon Wright.

The call came in to the HPD at approximately 4 p.m. Monday, when a woman in the lobby of the mental health center threatened to harm herself.

Wright said the woman remained in serious condition Tuesday.

"She didn't look good," he said of her condition Monday when she was loaded into a waiting ambulance.

A number of officers responded to the call.

"When officers got to the lobby, she was still there and had the knife in her hand," Wright said. "There was a lot of blood."

Officers were able to subdue the woman by using a Taser and then could take the knife away from her.

He said the woman refused to comply with officer's orders to put down the knife, and with other people in the lobby, the decision was made to use the Taser.

Medical treatment was possible as well once she was disarmed.

"I've heard four," Wright said of how many stab wounds she suffered. "I observed multiple stab wounds to her abdomen."

No one else was injured in the incident.