Rome police use taser to subdue armed naked woman near Ponte Milvio

Street confrontation in northern Rome

On the early afternoon of Sunday, 13 September 2026, police officers in Rome responded to reports of a public disturbance near Ponte Milvio. The incident began shortly after 13:30 along Via della Farnesina, a residential street lined with apartment buildings. Multiple residents contacted the police operations room to report an unclothed woman of imposing build moving along the street while crying, shouting, and brandishing an edged weapon. Sources varied on the exact nature of the blade, describing it either as a knife or a large machete. According to dispatch records, the woman confronted a male passerby on the sidewalk, pointing the weapon directly at him while delivering disjointed threats in a mixture of Italian and Spanish.

Hallway standoff and taser intervention

Following the confrontation outside, the woman persuaded someone to open the main entrance of a nearby residential building and barricaded herself inside the ground-floor hallway. Patrol cars and precinct vehicles converged on Via della Farnesina within minutes, and officers entered the building to contain the risk. Inside the entrance hall, the woman continued shouting and swung the blade through the air, creating a hazard for herself and the responding personnel. Tenants watched the confrontation unfold from their apartment doorways as officers made repeated attempts to negotiate and de-escalate the situation verbally. When the woman moved aggressively toward an officer, the police discharged a taser twice to incapacitate her just before physical contact could occur.

Medical transfer and identity verification

Emergency medical workers from the 118 service gathered outside the residential building prior to the discharge and entered immediately after police secured the hallway. The woman remained conscious though stunned by the electrical shock, and paramedics transferred her to an ambulance. Reports diverged regarding the receiving medical facility: one account stated she was taken to Santo Spirito Hospital for mandatory psychiatric treatment, while other reports noted she was admitted to the emergency room at San Filippo Neri Hospital for medical checks. Police confirmed that neither bystanders nor responding officers sustained injuries during the episode. Investigators identified the woman as a 38-year-old Cuban citizen who resides legally in Italy, is without fixed housing, and has no prior criminal record.

Regulatory framework for stun weapons

The intervention followed the standard deployment of conducted electrical weapons across Italian law enforcement agencies. Italian police forces, including the Polizia di Stato, Carabinieri, and Guardia di Finanza, introduced tasers into regular service in 2022 following trials and officer training programs. The weapon serves as an intermediate tactical option intended to resolve violent situations without the use of service firearms. Several civil associations in Italy have questioned the equipment, citing risks of cardiac complications in a minority of cases and potential hazards for vulnerable individuals in severe states of distress. Medical staff at the hospital are evaluating whether the woman's condition resulted from psychiatric disorders or substance consumption.