5 LASD deputies praised for bravery in Topanga standoff with mentally ill woman

TOPANGA, Calif. (KABC) -- A 22-hour standoff between Los Angeles County sheriff's deputies and an armed 74-year-old woman in the middle of a mental health crisis at a Topanga mobile home park ended peacefully due to the bravery of five deputies, her family says.

The woman pointed her gun at paramedics, a neighbor, deputies and even opened fire five times during the standoff that began May 21, after she called rescuers for a medical emergency at Woodland Park Mobile Estates.

"She was defiant, rambling and resistant and armed with a revolver," Sheriff Jim McDonnell said at a Tuesday news conference.

Los Angeles County sheriff's deputies tried repeatedly to flush her out of a neighbor's backyard, and later, out from under the home, where she was hiding, but nothing seemed to work.

They deployed tear gas, light and sound diversion, water from a fire engine, foam projectiles, pepper spray and a Taser. None had any effect, which is often the case in dealing with people in a mental health crisis.

Authorities say the stand-off ended only after five deputies agreed to risk their own lives by going into the crawl space where the woman was hiding, without their tactical gear or weapons.

The move was successful and was applauded by the woman's family. She was taken into custody early Friday morning.