Christmas stress in Meßkirch: Woman blocks roundabout with vespers and music!

Christmas stress in Meßkirch: Woman blocks roundabout with vespers and music!

Last Sunday, December 26, 2025, an extraordinary incident occurred in Meßkirch that not only kept the police forces but also passers-by in suspense. A 47-year-old woman parked her car in the “Am Stachus” roundabout and caused a major traffic jam. She had made herself comfortable: she defiantly listened to Christmas carols while she unpacked her snack in the middle of the hustle and bustle and honked the car horn. Passers-by who observed the strange scene informed the police, who immediately rushed to help. Schwäbische reports that the police arrived immediately, but the 47-year-old locked herself in her car and the situation escalated further.

With loud singing and a picnic in the vehicle, she didn't let it stop her from blocking traffic. The police were faced with the challenge of dealing with the woman, who was clearly in a psychological state of emergency. In order to calm the situation and get the lady out of her car, the volunteer fire department was called in, which ended up breaking a window in the driver's door. After this courageous step, the police were finally able to free the woman from her vehicle.

Exceptional psychological situations and the police

In recent years, acts of violence committed by people in mental health crises have been frequently reported in the press, giving a distorted image of mentally ill people. Most of those affected are not violent. A report on the LVPEBW website emphasizes that attacks are usually isolated cases and could be avoided through de-escalation. Treating affected individuals sensitively and respectfully is crucial to preventing such incidents. Police operations in exceptional psychological situations often require special sensitivity and appropriate training for officers in order to avoid unnecessary violence and ensure the safety of everyone involved.

The “Police and Psyche” working group was founded to develop strategies to improve the way we deal with mentally ill people. This could be done, for example, through training on de-escalation and mental health. LVPEBW also calls for the establishment of comprehensive crisis services that could be used to support the police in acute situations.

The importance of de-escalation

The principles of de-escalation are essential. Not only police officers, but also everyone who comes into contact with mentally ill people should know strategies to avoid violence and defuse the situation. The techniques required for this are known as “Talking Down”. This involves, among other things, creating a calm and empathetic atmosphere and communicating clearly. Coliquio emphasizes that safety and the physical integrity of everyone involved must always be a priority.

The incident in Meßkirch reminds us that behind every police operation in psychological crisis situations there are people who need both support and understanding. It is therefore in society's interest that the right training and the right offers of help are available in order to deal with such situations safely and humanely in the future.