CNN Feature Worth the Read
In our state, there has been much conversation about people with mental illness showing up behind bars with greater and greater frequency. Tragically, the story is the same in states across our country. In its "Behind the Scenes" series, CNN reporters do a commendable job of painting the story that plays out over and over again across our country. I encourage you to read the story and share your perspectives on how we can end this cycle in Oklahoma. Just add your comments to this blog and I'll review your opinions, suggestions and concerns.
While on the topic of the criminal justice system and people experiencing mental illness, don't forget that your participation is invited in the work of our state's Transformation effort. To learn more about this process, and how you can play a role, visit the Innovation Center's website.
I look forward to your comments. -- SLB
While on the topic of the criminal justice system and people experiencing mental illness, don't forget that your participation is invited in the work of our state's Transformation effort. To learn more about this process, and how you can play a role, visit the Innovation Center's website.
I look forward to your comments. -- SLB
posted by Steve B @ 5:57 PM
2 Comments:
At 12:33 AM ,
caminowalkers2013 said...
July 30 2007
I am so happy to come across this website and am hopeful that perhaps there is someone who will read this blog and be able to suggest some help. I am currently in the middle of a similar situation regarding my nephew. My nephew was diagnosed and hospitalized one year ago with a mental disorder. He is 25 years old. He is currently being held in The Wagenor County Jail in Oklahoma and is being charged with first degree felony burglary. He has no history of criminal activity, violence or drug use. One year ago in May of 2006 my nephew experienced his first episode of what is described as mania and psychosis. He had no history of mental illness and had just graduated with honors in June 2005 from California Polytechnic University of San Luis Obispo California. His father died when he was 13 years old. His mother remarried and moved to Oklahoma soon after where my nephew finished high school and one year at Oklahoma State University in Stillwater. He soon transferred to California and worked his way through school graduating with a bachelor degree in business in June 2005. He quickly obtained a good paying job in the Mortgage industry and was doing fantastic when in May 2006 he began exhibiting signs of extreme paranoia, racing thoughts and psychosis. Before family and friends had a chance to realize what exactly was going on he purchased an expensive limited edition sports car (he could not afford) and disappeared). We contacted authorities in his area and filed a missing person’s report stating that he was experiencing delusional thinking and paranoia. Three days later we were contacted that he had been picked up by The Monrovia Police Department, in Southern California and taken to a psychiatric hospital. The Monrovia Police Department was alerted by a security guard who found my nephew in the basement to a Verison Phone Company Building. He was wearing nothing but his underwear and was completely confused and disoriented. He had clearly broken into the building but thought he was on some kind of religious test. He claimed that he was being tested and had to get rid of all of his belongings and get in to this building. He did indeed get rid of all of his belongings clothes, wallet, credit cards, drivers’ license, cash & even his beloved dog, a male Papillion. The Monrovia Police did not arrest him but instead took him straight to a near by psychiatric hospital to be evaluated and treated. They did not impound his vehicle but instead parked it outside their building and kept the keys for us to pick up. They helped us to look for his belongings, many which were found throughout the area where they had found him. They even helped us to locate his dog which had been found by a local citizen. The car dealer who had sold my nephew the limited edition car was kind enough when he heard the story to let us return the car to his dealership even though the car had been driven all over the state of California in the short time my nephew was missing. My nephew was diagnosed and treated in the hospital and continued treatment with a psychiatrist on staff at that hospital until October 2006 when he moved back to Oklahoma to be close to his mother and sisters. My nephew slowly was able to get his life back in order. It took months of doctors experimenting with different medications and different dosages but finally he was able to get his own apartment, job and even a new car. He came to visit me in May of 2007 and I was overwhelmed with joy to find him his old self, one hundred percent. He was thriving. All of a sudden something (not sure exactly) triggered a second episode around Fathers’ Day 2007 (June). He had called to wish my dad (his grandfather) a Happy Fathers’ Day and something in his behavior was off. He talked excessively about some mold he had found in his apartment that he believed was making him and his dog ill. We asked him if he was taking his medications and he became defensive and said yes but that he was hurt that we had asked him. The next week he was difficult to get a hold of and other family members in Oklahoma were agreeing that his behavior was off and seemed paranoid. We had a conversation with him on Sunday June 24th (I think 24 or 25th I am not looking at a calendar) in which he said he was driving and was very confused. He said he was trying to get back to his hotel (he had moved into days before because of the mold in his apartment) but was lost and had gotten on to a turnpike headed from Oklahoma City toward Tulsa but could not find his way to turn around. We lost contact and he never answered his cell phone after that. His mother who lives in Edmond, Oklahoma contacted an officer Evans at the Edmond or Oklahoma City (not sure which) police department and filed a missing persons report. She explained that her son had been diagnosed with mental problems one year ago and had a reoccurrence and was experiencing mania with delusional thinking. This officer seemed extremely sympathetic and said that he was trained in working with persons with mental disorders.
Two days later we received a collect call from my nephew from the Wagenor County Jail. When I asked him what happened this is what he said to me.
I was driving to see my mom and I got lost. I wanted to get home because I had to work the next day but I got on a turnpike and could not get off. I ended up in Tulsa. I started to drive and came to (he said the name of a convenience store) something like “Come & Go” (not sure, I live in California and had not heard the name before) He said “I could not leave Scout (his dog) in the car because he had to be outside of the car so I set him down and went inside and when I came out “Scout” was gone. He said someone took him. I asked why he left the dog and he said that he had to do it. (He was clearly not acting himself, but I let him go on with the story.) He said he was in Coweta or near Coweta and that I shouldn’t worry about the dog. The dog was fine and that the dog would find him. He said he started driving and he knew that he could find someone to help him find his way back home. He said he somehow got stuck in the road. (I know that the weather was bad and that it had been raining excessively in Oklahoma that week) He said he saw a road and at the end of the road was a barn. He said that some woman that he worked with had talked about having horses and that he knew that she lived there and she would help him to get back home. I am not clear at that point whether or not he ever really saw a barn or went in to a barn but he then stated that he saw a Monastery. He said “you know, Aunt Sue it was a Monastery”. “It was brown with white trim and the lights were on.” He said “I knew that they would help me and I could spend the night there”. He told me that he knocked on the door of the Monastery but no one answered the door. He then told me that he saw a “clergy man” car in the driveway. He told me that he was told it was a test and that he had to get inside of the Monastery to be safe and pass the test. He entered the garage of what he believed to be the monastery and he said he tried the door but it was locked. He said they told him he had to get in the door to pass the test and to be safe. He said something about a box and that it was just like the one in my closet (which is my alarm system) and he said he had to undo the wires to open the door. He said all of a sudden the door opened and out came a man with a gun followed by several police. He was arrested and charged.
He was beat up and bruised badly. They state that he was combative. I know he was scared. He has never been a violent person. Ever! I believed that once they understood his story that the charges would be dismissed. I called Detective Evans with the Edmond Police department. He seemed very understanding and sympathetic. I asked him if the missing persons report was filed and clearly stated my nephews condition prior to his arrest couldn’t these charges be dismissed. He said that he was concerned for my nephew and upon hearing of his arrest had driven all the way to Wagenor County Jail to visit him. He told me that he could recognize that he was exhibiting clear signs of paranoia and delusional grandeur. He also said that this was not his jurisdiction and did not know if he could do anything to help but would let them know my nephews history. He told me that it was the Sheriff’s brother’s garage that my nephew had entered. He also asked me if he had ever been violent. I told him absolutely never! He then informed me that he had been combative with the arresting officers and that is a serious offense and that if that had happened in Edmond my nephew would have been brought up on much more serious charges. I let him know that I thought this ludicrous. That my nephew had an almost identical episode In Southern California and was not even arrested. Of course he was combative. He was paranoid and delusional and faced with several shouting men with guns in his face! This officer who I believed to be so compassionate and understanding who initially took the missing persons report then began to tell me about a murder that had happened in Edmond, Oklahoma on June 5th and did I believe my nephew could have been capable of committing this act. I was flabbergasted. I told him absolutely not. He went on to say that he had questioned my nephew (on his concerned visit) about the murder in Edmond. When I asked him on what basis would he suspect my nephew he stated that there were similarities in the murder and the attempted burglary. When asked what the similarities were, he stated that the lights were on in both residences and that my nephew could have been attracted to the lights. I was and still am livid. I believe my nephew’s rights have been violated. He clearly is not able to understand the consequences of being questioned without an attorney present in his current state of mind and yet he was questioned at length by this detective and maybe others. I have repeatedly contacted everyone that is associated with this case in the jail, the judge, the attorney now appointed to him by the jail and no one seems to be listening or cares to listen. He has not been seen by a doctor. He has not been given much needed medication. He has been in jail since June 24th or 25th (whichever is Sunday). His doctors from California have tried to contact the jail and they will not speak with them and will not let them speak with my nephew. The Doctors in California have spoken with the appointed attorney and requested that they be allowed to evaluate him and medicate him. They have asked that he be taken to a hospital for treatment. They have left countless messages with the DA’s office who will not call them back. I have written letters to everyone I can think of and nothing is being done. My nephew is lost in the system and is being charged with this crime that he does not deserve to be charged. He has never been in trouble in his life. He is a good, kind hard working young man. I fear that it is going to impossible for him to piece his life back together. I desperately need help/advice to help my nephew. To the best of my knowledge it does not appear that my nephew took anything from the garage that he entered unlawfully. I do not understand the charges. You would think that the mistreatment of such a person would have taken place in a big city such as Los Angeles where he instead was treated with kindness and compassion and instead in a small little county it appears that they feel that the crime of the century has taken place in "the sheriffs brothers" garage. go figure! I know that I wrote a long story and yet I cut it short because there is so much more… Any advice will be appreciated.
Suzanne
At 5:10 PM ,
caminowalkers2013 said...
July 30 2007
I am so happy to come across this website and am hopeful that perhaps there is someone who will read this blog and be able to suggest some help. I am currently in the middle of a similar situation regarding my nephew. My nephew was diagnosed and hospitalized one year ago with a mental disorder. He is 25 years old. He is currently being held in The Wagenor County Jail in Oklahoma and is being charged with first degree felony burglary. He has no history of criminal activity, violence or drug use. One year ago in May of 2006 my nephew experienced his first episode of what is described as mania and psychosis. He had no history of mental illness and had just graduated with honors in June 2005 from California Polytechnic University of San Luis Obispo California. His father died when he was 13 years old. His mother remarried and moved to Oklahoma soon after where my nephew finished high school and one year at Oklahoma State University in Stillwater. He soon transferred to California and worked his way through school graduating with a bachelor degree in business in June 2005. He quickly obtained a good paying job in the Mortgage industry and was doing fantastic when in May 2006 he began exhibiting signs of extreme paranoia, racing thoughts and psychosis. Before family and friends had a chance to realize what exactly was going on he purchased an expensive limited edition sports car (he could not afford) and disappeared). We contacted authorities in his area and filed a missing person’s report stating that he was experiencing delusional thinking and paranoia. Three days later we were contacted that he had been picked up by The Monrovia Police Department, in Southern California and taken to a psychiatric hospital. The Monrovia Police Department was alerted by a security guard who found my nephew in the basement to a Verison Phone Company Building. He was wearing nothing but his underwear and was completely confused and disoriented. He had clearly broken into the building but thought he was on some kind of religious test. He claimed that he was being tested and had to get rid of all of his belongings and get in to this building. He did indeed get rid of all of his belongings clothes, wallet, credit cards, drivers’ license, cash & even his beloved dog, a male Papillion. The Monrovia Police did not arrest him but instead took him straight to a near by psychiatric hospital to be evaluated and treated. They did not impound his vehicle but instead parked it outside their building and kept the keys for us to pick up. They helped us to look for his belongings, many which were found throughout the area where they had found him. They even helped us to locate his dog which had been found by a local citizen. The car dealer who had sold my nephew the limited edition car was kind enough when he heard the story to let us return the car to his dealership even though the car had been driven all over the state of California in the short time my nephew was missing. My nephew was diagnosed and treated in the hospital and continued treatment with a psychiatrist on staff at that hospital until October 2006 when he moved back to Oklahoma to be close to his mother and sisters. My nephew slowly was able to get his life back in order. It took months of doctors experimenting with different medications and different dosages but finally he was able to get his own apartment, job and even a new car. He came to visit me in May of 2007 and I was overwhelmed with joy to find him his old self, one hundred percent. He was thriving. All of a sudden something (not sure exactly) triggered a second episode around Fathers’ Day 2007 (June). He had called to wish my dad (his grandfather) a Happy Fathers’ Day and something in his behavior was off. He talked excessively about some mold he had found in his apartment that he believed was making him and his dog ill. We asked him if he was taking his medications and he became defensive and said yes but that he was hurt that we had asked him. The next week he was difficult to get a hold of and other family members in Oklahoma were agreeing that his behavior was off and seemed paranoid. We had a conversation with him on Sunday June 24th (I think 24 or 25th I am not looking at a calendar) in which he said he was driving and was very confused. He said he was trying to get back to his hotel (he had moved into days before because of the mold in his apartment) but was lost and had gotten on to a turnpike headed from Oklahoma City toward Tulsa but could not find his way to turn around. We lost contact and he never answered his cell phone after that. His mother who lives in Edmond, Oklahoma contacted an officer Evans at the Edmond or Oklahoma City (not sure which) police department and filed a missing persons report. She explained that her son had been diagnosed with mental problems one year ago and had a reoccurrence and was experiencing mania with delusional thinking. This officer seemed extremely sympathetic and said that he was trained in working with persons with mental disorders.
Two days later we received a collect call from my nephew from the Wagenor County Jail. When I asked him what happened this is what he said to me.
I was driving to see my mom and I got lost. I wanted to get home because I had to work the next day but I got on a turnpike and could not get off. I ended up in Tulsa. I started to drive and came to (he said the name of a convenience store) something like “Come & Go” (not sure, I live in California and had not heard the name before) He said “I could not leave Scout (his dog) in the car because he had to be outside of the car so I set him down and went inside and when I came out “Scout” was gone. He said someone took him. I asked why he left the dog and he said that he had to do it. (He was clearly not acting himself, but I let him go on with the story.) He said he was in Coweta or near Coweta and that I shouldn’t worry about the dog. The dog was fine and that the dog would find him. He said he started driving and he knew that he could find someone to help him find his way back home. He said he somehow got stuck in the road. (I know that the weather was bad and that it had been raining excessively in Oklahoma that week) He said he saw a road and at the end of the road was a barn. He said that some woman that he worked with had talked about having horses and that he knew that she lived there and she would help him to get back home. I am not clear at that point whether or not he ever really saw a barn or went in to a barn but he then stated that he saw a Monastery. He said “you know, Aunt Sue it was a Monastery”. “It was brown with white trim and the lights were on.” He said “I knew that they would help me and I could spend the night there”. He told me that he knocked on the door of the Monastery but no one answered the door. He then told me that he saw a “clergy man” car in the driveway. He told me that he was told it was a test and that he had to get inside of the Monastery to be safe and pass the test. He entered the garage of what he believed to be the monastery and he said he tried the door but it was locked. He said they told him he had to get in the door to pass the test and to be safe. He said something about a box and that it was just like the one in my closet (which is my alarm system) and he said he had to undo the wires to open the door. He said all of a sudden the door opened and out came a man with a gun followed by several police. He was arrested and charged.
He was beat up and bruised badly. They state that he was combative. I know he was scared. He has never been a violent person. Ever! I believed that once they understood his story that the charges would be dismissed. I called Detective Evans with the Edmond Police department. He seemed very understanding and sympathetic. I asked him if the missing persons report was filed and clearly stated my nephews condition prior to his arrest couldn’t these charges be dismissed. He said that he was concerned for my nephew and upon hearing of his arrest had driven all the way to Wagenor County Jail to visit him. He told me that he could recognize that he was exhibiting clear signs of paranoia and delusional grandeur. He also said that this was not his jurisdiction and did not know if he could do anything to help but would let them know my nephews history. He told me that it was the Sheriff’s brother’s garage that my nephew had entered. He also asked me if he had ever been violent. I told him absolutely never! He then informed me that he had been combative with the arresting officers and that is a serious offense and that if that had happened in Edmond my nephew would have been brought up on much more serious charges. I let him know that I thought this ludicrous. That my nephew had an almost identical episode In Southern California and was not even arrested. Of course he was combative. He was paranoid and delusional and faced with several shouting men with guns in his face! This officer who I believed to be so compassionate and understanding who initially took the missing persons report then began to tell me about a murder that had happened in Edmond, Oklahoma on June 5th and did I believe my nephew could have been capable of committing this act. I was flabbergasted. I told him absolutely not. He went on to say that he had questioned my nephew (on his concerned visit) about the murder in Edmond. When I asked him on what basis would he suspect my nephew he stated that there were similarities in the murder and the attempted burglary. When asked what the similarities were, he stated that the lights were on in both residences and that my nephew could have been attracted to the lights. I was and still am livid. I believe my nephew’s rights have been violated. He clearly is not able to understand the consequences of being questioned without an attorney present in his current state of mind and yet he was questioned at length by this detective and maybe others. I have repeatedly contacted everyone that is associated with this case in the jail, the judge, the attorney now appointed to him by the jail and no one seems to be listening or cares to listen. He has not been seen by a doctor. He has not been given much needed medication. He has been in jail since June 24th or 25th (whichever is Sunday). His doctors from California have tried to contact the jail and they will not speak with them and will not let them speak with my nephew. The Doctors in California have spoken with the appointed attorney and requested that they be allowed to evaluate him and medicate him. They have asked that he be taken to a hospital for treatment. They have left countless messages with the DA’s office who will not call them back. I have written letters to everyone I can think of and nothing is being done. My nephew is lost in the system and is being charged with this crime that he does not deserve to be charged. He has never been in trouble in his life. He is a good, kind hard working young man. I fear that it is going to impossible for him to piece his life back together. I desperately need help/advice to help my nephew. I know that I wrote a long story and yet I cut it short because there is so much more… Any advice will be appreciated.
Suzanne
Post a Comment
Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]
<< Home