A Vancouver woman who allegedly reached for a deputy’s gun, causing it to fire, during a traffic stop Monday morning was acting erratically during the incident and warned officers that a tsunami was coming, according to court records.
Jessica D. Farias, 33, appeared Tuesday in Clark County Superior Court on suspicion of first-degree assault on a law enforcement officer, three counts of attempting to disarm a law enforcement officer, attempting to elude police, hit-and-run injury, reckless driving and resisting arrest in connection with the incident.
Farias, who was restrained in a wheelchair, blew kisses to people sitting in the gallery as an officer wheeled her into the courtroom. She wore a suicide-prevention smock, which is given to prisoners who may try to harm themselves with standard jail clothing.
Several people called 911 shortly before 9:30 a.m. Monday to report a light blue Acura coupe driving recklessly on Northeast Hazel Dell Avenue, according to the Clark County Sheriff’s Office. One caller described the driver as a blond, middle-aged woman, court records said. The driver was later identified by police as Farias.
The car reportedly drove through red lights, weaved in and out of traffic, drove in circles in the middle of the road and caused at least three separate crashes, according to a probable cause affidavit filed in Superior Court. One of the crashes resulted in another driver, Cassandra Bass, being transported by ambulance to a local hospital, court documents said.
Her condition was not immediately available Tuesday afternoon.
Deputies found the car traveling north in the 8800 block of Northeast Highway 99. Clark County sheriff’s Sgt. Rick Torres turned on his emergency lights and sirens and attempted to stop the vehicle. Farias allegedly failed to yield, however, and continued through red lights on Highway 99 at Northeast 96th Street and Northeast 99th Street, the affidavit said.
She then reportedly turned west and drove toward an Interstate 5 overpass, where she stopped in a turn lane to travel south on I-5. Torres and Deputy Alan Earhart boxed Farias’ car in with their patrol vehicles, court records said.
When deputies tried to remove Farias from the car, she allegedly became uncooperative. Officers were able to handcuff her, but shortly thereafter Farias reportedly slipped her hands out of the handcuffs and grabbed at Torres’ handgun, causing the gun to fire while it was still in the holster, the affidavit said.
The bullet reportedly traveled through the front windshield of Farias’ car and appeared to become lodged in the passenger’s side glove box, according to court documents.
No one was injured in the incident.
During the struggle, Farias also allegedly reached for two other deputies’ guns in their holsters and attempted to remove them, unsuccessfully, court records said.
According to the affidavit, Farias made statements such as, “All you got me on is reckless driving” and “Give me a ticket. It was only reckless!” Deputies placed her in tighter-fitting handcuffs and leg restraints, and she was placed on the ground. While on the ground, she reportedly began screaming, “Don’t touch me. I’m God!” and “I made you,’ ” according to court documents.
Deputies said she then began talking about a tsunami that was coming and warned them to go home and barricade their doors, the affidavit said.
Evaluation ordered
During Farias’ hearing, she refused to confirm her identity and, at times, bobbed side-to-side in her wheelchair. Judge Scott Collier appointed defense attorney Shon Bogar to represent her.
“I don’t need you. I don’t want you. Jesus Christ is my attorney,” Farias told Bogar. “You have been dismissed.”
Collier said it appeared Farias may have competency issues and ordered a mental health evaluation.
He also set her bail at $150,000.
She is scheduled to be back in court Friday.
It is unclear if any of the officers involved in the incident were placed on administrative leave.
