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Suicidal Woman Bites Off Jail Deputy's Finger After 9-Hour Standoff With Police On I-680 In San Jose

SAN JOSE (CBS SF) -- A woman who threatened to jump off an overpass above Interstate 680 in San Jose -- prompting a nine hour closure of the freeway Monday -- attacked and bit off the finger of a Santa Clara County Sheriff's deputy while she was booked into jail, according to police.

The Mercury News reports that the woman, identified as 26-year-old San Jose resident Sandy Quinones, bit the female deputy while she was in the intake area of the Santa Clara County jail early Tuesday. The bite was severe enough to sever the deputy's finger, according to a source.

Quinones was arrested on suspicion of trespassing, resisting arrest and being under the influence of drugs just before midnight Monday, following a standoff with police during which she threatened to jump from the overpass. She is being held on a $10,000 bail.

All lanes of the freeway at Alum Rock Avenue were closed to traffic around 3 p.m. The freeway remained closed for the entire evening rush hour. CHP said the northbound lanes of the freeway were opened shortly before 9:00 p.m.

While police attempted to negotiate with her, southbound traffic was diverted at the McKee Road exit. When the northbound lanes were closed, traffic was diverted at Capitol Expressway.

During the height of the evening commute, southbound traffic was backed up from Jacklin Road, before Highway 237 in Milpitas. The northbound backup extended to Interstate 280, all the way to the Highway 85 interchange in Cupertino, about 13.5 miles away.

Some commuters took to Twitter to post pictures of the backup.

 

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