Woman wielding cleaver arrested after land dispute in New Taipei City

A land ownership dispute escalated dramatically in New Taipei City, leading a 55-year-old woman to brandish a cleaver on a public street and smash abandoned stall structures. The incident occurred on the evening of June 6th in the Tucheng District.

The woman, identified by her surname Zhou, reportedly lost her temper over a disagreement concerning the ownership of a vacant lot. Her aggressive actions on the street, involving the wild swinging of a sharp cleaver and destruction of property, alarmed passersby and created a tense atmosphere in the residential area.

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The woman, identified by her surname Zhou, reportedly lost her temper over a disagreement concerning the ownership of a vacant lot.

Authorities responded swiftly after receiving a report of the disturbance. Officers from the Guangfu Police Station arrived at the scene, finding Zhou emotionally agitated and armed. They adopted a cautious approach, maintaining a safe distance while attempting to de-escalate the situation through verbal persuasion.

An experienced officer seized an opportune moment when Zhou's attention wavered and her guard lowered. The officer quickly moved in, skillfully disarmed her of the cleaver, and subdued her, successfully averting a potentially violent confrontation. Fortunately, no injuries were sustained by anyone involved. The woman was arrested and, despite the owner of the damaged stalls not wishing to press charges for property damage, she was transferred for legal proceedings on charges of endangering public safety.

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The officer quickly moved in, skillfully disarmed her of the cleaver, and subdued her, successfully averting a potentially violent confrontation.