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Woman jailed after refusing to identify herself to police at Burnaby mall

'Jane Doe' wouldn't tell police her name after she allegedly threw a drink at a stranger at Metrotown mall. She's now been in jail for six days because she refuses to identify herself to court officials.
metropolis at metrotown

A woman who allegedly threw a drink at a stranger inside Burnaby's Metrotown mall has been in jail for nearly a week because she refuses to identify herself.

Police responded to Metropolis at Metrotown just before 3 p.m. on Nov. 15 for reports a man had had a drink thrown at him by a woman he didn't know, according to Burnaby RCMP.

Officers located the suspect, but she refused to identify herself, so she was arrested and charged with obstructing a police officer.

Since then, the woman – who is being called Jane Doe in court documents – has been scheduled for six bail hearings but has refused to reveal her identity.

She appeared by video at a bail hearing Tuesday in Vancouver provincial court but refused to speak when addressed by the judge.

Crown prosecutor Karen Haughton said the concern with the woman’s release was that she might be wanted on outstanding warrants.

Judge Patrick Doherty eventually ordered the woman to undergo an overnight psychiatric assessment.

The woman was also ordered to make her next court appearance in person on Wednesday despite the fact the court had already tried that, according to Haughton.

“She’s refused to be transported,” Haughton said.

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