Star*
call 911........call 911
Hi all -
This was just too weird for words. This morning our best friends had a break in. He left for work at 6:00 as per usual, and she babysits her grandson. She left the house around 8:30 for story time at the library.
When she returned home, she realized she had locked herself out of the house. She called the neighbor across the street to let her in. Once in - and feeling silly for forgetting her house key - she noticed the bedroom door was shut. She knew she didn't shut the door. With her grandson on her hip she went to see if the door hadn't possibly blown shut when the neighbor opened the door for her. As she got closer she heard rustling sounds in the house and ran out fearing for her grandsons safety.
She ran to the neighbor and called 911. The police arrived within minutes (there's the miracle) and went into the home and found a very overweight, mid-30's woman in the bedroom. Upon further inspection of the home our friend noticed food missing, the bathroom shower wet - a towel on the floor, and all the pictures of her grandchild busted and torn laying in the trash can.
The police took the woman out in handcuffs and told my friend (oh huge lie) that there is NOTHING that can be done since they were taking her across the river to the State mental hospital. I listened to her telling me about the cops 'take' on things - He said she couldn't press charges because this woman was obviously mentally ill. Matter of fact she had done the EXACT same thing to the house across the street (oddly enough the house that our friends sold to move into the house they're in now) and the neighbor said he found the woman had made herself RIGHT at home - food, shower, nap, torn up pictures - just like our friends home today.
Our friends are visibly shaken. She is more upset that the cop told her there is nothing that can be done and that in 72 hours this woman will be "out" and free to offend again.
I am really struggling with this one - because I am sure the woman who broke in is suffering from some sort of mental illness. I would venture a guess -schizophrenia. If you've read the book "crazy" it's a fathers persepective of his own schiz. son age 20 who broke in, took a bath, ate and did other odd things in a home. It would have been a felony on this young mans record. His father begged the family to not press charges.
In this case - I'm sympathetic to my friend because I've also been burglarized in the past and it's an AWFUL feeling. But I also know that if it were someone mentally ill that had been in my house? I'd be WAY more sympathetic to their plight than most people. I'm torn because I KNOW the advice the police gave was incorrect. Yes she'll get out in 72 hours and yes, she could come back and yes there is that fear of not feeling comfortable in your own home to the degree of wanting to move. But why would an officer give such inaccurate info? Why didn't the neighbor tell them what had happened KNOWING that was their old house.
They don't know her --it's just bizzare. DF wants me to tell our friend that they can press charges, but get her to understand (fat chance) that this woman is mentally ill and already suffers. I'm just not sure I want to open this beehive. Any suggestions?
(also thinking the cop said what he said MORESO because he has an understanding for mentally ill and knows she won't get the help she needs in a jail) and if she's homeless.....how does she remember to get to jail? Then there will be warrants etc...more fines, more time. Ugh -
This was just too weird for words. This morning our best friends had a break in. He left for work at 6:00 as per usual, and she babysits her grandson. She left the house around 8:30 for story time at the library.
When she returned home, she realized she had locked herself out of the house. She called the neighbor across the street to let her in. Once in - and feeling silly for forgetting her house key - she noticed the bedroom door was shut. She knew she didn't shut the door. With her grandson on her hip she went to see if the door hadn't possibly blown shut when the neighbor opened the door for her. As she got closer she heard rustling sounds in the house and ran out fearing for her grandsons safety.
She ran to the neighbor and called 911. The police arrived within minutes (there's the miracle) and went into the home and found a very overweight, mid-30's woman in the bedroom. Upon further inspection of the home our friend noticed food missing, the bathroom shower wet - a towel on the floor, and all the pictures of her grandchild busted and torn laying in the trash can.
The police took the woman out in handcuffs and told my friend (oh huge lie) that there is NOTHING that can be done since they were taking her across the river to the State mental hospital. I listened to her telling me about the cops 'take' on things - He said she couldn't press charges because this woman was obviously mentally ill. Matter of fact she had done the EXACT same thing to the house across the street (oddly enough the house that our friends sold to move into the house they're in now) and the neighbor said he found the woman had made herself RIGHT at home - food, shower, nap, torn up pictures - just like our friends home today.
Our friends are visibly shaken. She is more upset that the cop told her there is nothing that can be done and that in 72 hours this woman will be "out" and free to offend again.
I am really struggling with this one - because I am sure the woman who broke in is suffering from some sort of mental illness. I would venture a guess -schizophrenia. If you've read the book "crazy" it's a fathers persepective of his own schiz. son age 20 who broke in, took a bath, ate and did other odd things in a home. It would have been a felony on this young mans record. His father begged the family to not press charges.
In this case - I'm sympathetic to my friend because I've also been burglarized in the past and it's an AWFUL feeling. But I also know that if it were someone mentally ill that had been in my house? I'd be WAY more sympathetic to their plight than most people. I'm torn because I KNOW the advice the police gave was incorrect. Yes she'll get out in 72 hours and yes, she could come back and yes there is that fear of not feeling comfortable in your own home to the degree of wanting to move. But why would an officer give such inaccurate info? Why didn't the neighbor tell them what had happened KNOWING that was their old house.
They don't know her --it's just bizzare. DF wants me to tell our friend that they can press charges, but get her to understand (fat chance) that this woman is mentally ill and already suffers. I'm just not sure I want to open this beehive. Any suggestions?
(also thinking the cop said what he said MORESO because he has an understanding for mentally ill and knows she won't get the help she needs in a jail) and if she's homeless.....how does she remember to get to jail? Then there will be warrants etc...more fines, more time. Ugh -
