Canoga Park standoff ends peacefully 11 hours after woman climbs tree at rec center

Tuesday, May 15, 2018
CANOGA PARK, LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- More than 11 hours after a woman climbed a tree and prompted a standoff with emergency responders at Lanark Recreation Center in Canoga Park, she came down safely Tuesday morning and was evaluated by paramedics.

The incident began shortly before 7:30 p.m. Monday at the park in the 21800 block of W. Lanark Street, where a witness reported seeing the unidentified woman smoking narcotics before she ascended the 30-foot tree, according to the Los Angeles Police Department.
[Ads /]
Firefighters from the Los Angeles Fire Department set up a large inflatable air cushion under the tree to break the woman's fall in case she fell or jumped.

[Ads /]
Three ladders were also deployed as authorities overnight attempted to convince the woman to voluntarily come down. At one point, fire Capt. Gary Rodriguez promised she would receive a shower and a Dr Pepper if she came out of the tree voluntarily.

The ordeal ended without incident shortly before 7 a.m. when she descended one of the ladders uninjured.

Paramedics assessed the woman before transporting to a hospital for further evaluation.
Copyright © 2026 KABC Television, LLC. All rights reserved.