Standoff woman charged after officer hit by fleeing vehicle

Lethbridge police have charged a Standoff woman in connection with an incident Sunday in which an officer was struck by a fleeing vehicle.

Police say at about 2:30 p.m. officers patrolling the 200 block of 15 Street North saw a Chrysler Sebring that had been involved in an incident two days earlier when a woman fled from police. Police approached a home and saw the woman inside, along with a man with outstanding warrants.

As the two individuals left the home, were arrested and handcuffed, an officer went to the passenger side of the suspect car to retrieve the woman’s purse. The woman jumped into the driver’s seat — with the handcuffs now in front of her — locked the doors, started the vehicle without a key and quickly accelerated in reverse, striking the officer. She then drove into oncoming traffic on 13 Street North and sped away. The officer who was struck sustained minor injuries.

Blood Tribe police found the woman on the Blood Reserve later that night and arrested her without further incident. She was taken back to Lethbridge and the vehicle was seized.

Sarah Cheyenne Goodstriker, 28, is charged with assaulting a peace officer with a weapon, escaping lawful custody, dangerous driving, obstructing a peace officer, intent to avoid arrest, and flight from a peace officer.

Goodstriker is in custody pending a judicial interim release hearing.