Staff Report

Maria Zavala Rostro

LIGONIER — A Ligonier woman was recently arrested after allegedly escaping from a police officer’s vehicle and threatening two people.

Maria Zavala Rostro, 32, 600 N. Cavin St., Ligonier, is charged with escape and intimidation with a deadly weapon, both level 5 felonies; and battery and criminal mischief, both class B misdemeanors.

On June 23, a Ligonier Police officer responded to a report of a woman using a knife to threaten someone. Upon arrival, the officer learned the woman, later identified as Rostro, told two people she was going to kill them. A woman at the scene noticed Rostro had a knife on her person when she made the threats.

According to court documents, the woman said Rostro slapped her face and used a piece of wood from a porch’s railing to hit her vehicle’s windshield.

During the confrontation, the officer told Rostro to stand at the front of his vehicle, but she continuously approached the woman and officer while yelling. The officer then placed Rostro in his vehicle’s prisoner transport seat. While Rostro was seated and handcuffed, she managed to escape and exited the vehicle, attempting to flee from the scene on foot.

Rostro was booked in the Noble County Jail on June 23.