Conroe police say that after a woman was taken to HCA Houston Healthcare in Conroe for a mental health evaluation, she pulled out a gun and fired.
KPRC has been asking law enforcement how the woman managed to get into the hospital armed.
“Training is very important,” said Renae Tomczak, executive director of Mental Health America of Greater Houston.
Tomczak is talking about deescalating a mental health crisis situation.
”People often get agitated. That is a good common symptom,” she said.
The Harris County Sheriff’s Office says Tuesday that Harris County EMS responded to a call from a woman in mental distress in the 14400 block of North Expressway.
The deputies arrived to help, and that is where the questions begin.
Did the officers search her for a weapon before she was taken by ambulance to HCA Houston Healthcare in Conroe?
Officials with the Harris County Sheriff’s Office are not responding, but say he is under investigation.
Conroe police say the woman’s arms and legs were strapped to a gurney when she managed to pull a gun out from under her dress and fire two shots.
Ad
An SEM worker managed to disarm her and luckily no one was injured.
Conroe police say EMS workers were notified the woman had a weapon when they initially arrived at the North Expressway location and were asked to stay back.
The Harris County Sheriff’s Office says it has launched an Internal Affairs and Office of Inspector General investigation into its deputies’ actions on that initial call for duty.
Tomczak says he wants people to understand that every mental health crisis is unique and not every situation turns violent.
“When we conflate mental illness with violence, it’s stigmatizing and it certainly sets us back in terms of people seeking help,” he said.
The woman was charged with deadly conduct and unlawful carrying of a weapon.
Copyright 2022 by KPRC Click2Houston – All Rights Reserved.
.
