Fork-Wielding Woman Holds Up Traffic Yelling 'I Will Not Be Moved'

PARK FOREST, IL — A woman wielding a barbecue fork and repeatedly uttering the phrase "I will not be moved" at a major intersection in Park Forest around 5 a.m. Saturday was taken into custody after a lengthy effort by multiple law enforcement officers and could face charges upon the completion of a mental evaluation.

Park Forest police arrived at the intersection of Sauk Trail and Lakewood Boulevard to find the woman, a 27-year-old Park Forest resident, "jumping in front of vehicles" and holding an object "believed to be a large knife," according to a Facebook post from the Park Forest Police Department. Police said the woman was obstructing traffic by waving the knife around while yelling repeatedly "I will not be moved."

During the incident, which required the presence of several nearby law enforcement agencies, the woman approached a van and "repeatedly stabbed the closed driver's side window," police said.

Police said several attempts to use a Taser on the woman were unsuccessful and responding officers were forced to use the combination of a Taser and shield to take her into custody.

"The entire time she was being taken into custody she continued to resist and yell the same refrain of, 'I will not be moved,'" according to the police account, which indicated the object in her hand was a large barbecue fork.

No injuries were reported throughout the incident, including the woman.

Two adult family members of the woman were taken into custody for obstructing officers and then resisting arrest after the woman had already been subdued, police said.

Several onlookers became involved by approaching the scene to record the incident, which resulted in a police request to the public not to interfere.

"As this incident occurred on a major thoroughfare, there were numerous people who stopped to observe this incident unfold, some of whom recorded the incident on cell phones or who attempted to become involved in the situation," police said. "We respect the public’s right to both witness and record a police-involved incident, however, the public positioning themselves too close to someone exhibiting dangerous behavior only heightens the risks during the incident and could create a situation where officers are forced to use deadly force to protect them. Whether well or ill-intentioned, we would remind the public to never insert themselves into such a dynamic and dangerous situation."

Police plan to wait for the result of a mental evaluation on the woman to determine whether charges will be filed.