This is a frightening situation in my area

jillio said:
BTW, when a patient leaves a psychiatric hopsital without permission, as in this case, it is not even called "escape". It is called "elopement". Unfortunately, people seem to want to apply correctional standards to hospitalization.

And, we must also keep in mind that "appears to be" is not equal to "actually is".
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It depends on whom you talk to. I am sure that the patients simply say they "ran." :)
 
I've been following this thread ever since I got back home yesterday. While my reaction would be similar to Reba's reaction at first, I would also ask myself how likely is this going to happen to myself and others. I prefer to use facts instead of my worst fears as my guide. Yes, he has been charged with attempted murder. Do I know anything about why he was charged with it? No. Do I know the circumstances which lead to those charges to begin with? No. Do I know why those charges were dropped? No. I can guess why but remember I do not have evidence regarding this case so my guess is just speculation at this point -thus my guess would be considered hearsay. My guess is not a fact.

If he is of harm to others, why wasn't he placed in a high security place? Did anyone get robbed when he "eloped". Since he must have been considered a low risk, it would make sense for him to be at this place.

Do I know why the charges were dropped? No. Do I know why he was charged to begin with? No.

Since the paper has not mentioned that anyone got harmed during his escape, I would assume he's not too likely to harms others. As far as I can tell, he hasn't broken into any houses. So how likely is it that he will break into houses? I've heard of criminals who emded up in jail again after just 3 hours of freedom. Also do I know what mental conditions he had? No. The paper merely mentioned he was from DC. Not everyone who lives in the NE or SE DC is a gang member. Also, not everyone who lives in DC are black or into politics.

Since the paper has not mentioned that he was a gang member, it's pure speculation at this point based on "loosely circumstantial evidence". At best, this sort of "evidence" is rather ... flimsy. I used to live in DC so does that make me a former gang member?

Based on what I do know, I know that this guy got sent to a low security place and he escaped from this place. I do not know if he had any mental conditions for sure though it's likely he has one or more mental condition given the nature of this place. I do not know what king of conditions he has (if any) - only that he must have been considered a low risk.


Anything else is speculation at this point. I do not know for sure if he has broken into houses or harmed anyone. I would think the paper would have reported that.


Facts are what happened - not what I (or anyone else) think happened. We know that he was at this place and he escaped from it for 4 days. We know he was charged and that the charges were dropped. We know this building is a low risk one. These facts can not be disputed.

Thinking he has a mental condition is based on circumstantial evidence. He's at a mental health building and he's been there for a while so it's probable he has one or several conditions. I donot know for sure if he has one or what kind.

Thinking he might attack others is speculation at this point since there has been no reports of it - nor has he been reported to be a high risk to others in the paper. Thus it's quite probable he's a low risk to others.

The fact that he was at a low security mental health building and that he escaped it can not be disputed. There isn't any evidence that he has harmed others during his 4 day escape so that can not be considered a fact that he harmed others. Ditto for breaking into houses.

The fact is that attempted murders charges were brought against him and then dropped. We do not know why they were brought up in the first place or why they were dropped. We do not know if he was guilty of those charges or why they were dropped. We don't even know if he has a history of harming others. Given the facts, I would say it's unlikely he has such a history. However, I (or anyone else) do not know this for certain. If he had such a history, it's probable he wouldn't be at this place.

Years ago, my social worker told me to worry about What's real -and- not to worry about what might happen.

In this case, I think some of the posters might want to stick to known facts and not what ifs or what could happen.
 
deafskeptic said:
I've been following this thread ever since I got back home yesterday. While my reaction would be similar to Reba's reaction at first, I would also ask myself how likely is this going to happen to myself and others. I prefer to use facts instead of my worst fears as my guide. Yes, he has been charged with attempted murder. Do I know anything about why he was charged with it? No. Do I know the circumstances which lead to those charges to begin with? No. Do I know why those charges were dropped? No. I can guess why but remember I do not have evidence regarding this case so my guess is just speculation at this point -thus my guess would be considered hearsay. My guess is not a fact.

If he is of harm to others, why wasn't he placed in a high security place? Did anyone get robbed when he "eloped". Since he must have been considered a low risk, it would make sense for him to be at this place.

Do I know why the charges were dropped? No. Do I know why he was charged to begin with? No.

Since the paper has not mentioned that anyone got harmed during his escape, I would assume he's not too likely to harms others. As far as I can tell, he hasn't broken into any houses. So how likely is it that he will break into houses? I've heard of criminals who emded up in jail again after just 3 hours of freedom. Also do I know what mental conditions he had? No. The paper merely mentioned he was from DC. Not everyone who lives in the NE or SE DC is a gang member. Also, not everyone who lives in DC are black or into politics.

Since the paper has not mentioned that he was a gang member, it's pure speculation at this point based on "loosely circumstantial evidence". At best, this sort of "evidence" is rather ... flimsy. I used to live in DC so does that make me a former gang member?

Based on what I do know, I know that this guy got sent to a low security place and he escaped from this place. I do not know if he had any mental conditions for sure though it's likely he has one or more mental condition given the nature of this place. I do not know what king of conditions he has (if any) - only that he must have been considered a low risk.


Anything else is speculation at this point. I do not know for sure if he has broken into houses or harmed anyone. I would think the paper would have reported that.


Facts are what happened - not what I (or anyone else) think happened. We know that he was at this place and he escaped from it for 4 days. We know he was charged and that the charges were dropped. We know this building is a low risk one. These facts can not be disputed.

Thinking he has a mental condition is based on circumstantial evidence. He's at a mental health building and he's been there for a while so it's probable he has one or several conditions. I donot know for sure if he has one or what kind.

Thinking he might attack others is speculation at this point since there has been no reports of it - nor has he been reported to be a high risk to others in the paper. Thus it's quite probable he's a low risk to others.

The fact that he was at a low security mental health building and that he escaped it can not be disputed. There isn't any evidence that he has harmed others during his 4 day escape so that can not be considered a fact that he harmed others. Ditto for breaking into houses.

The fact is that attempted murders charges were brought against him and then dropped. We do not know why they were brought up in the first place or why they were dropped. We do not know if he was guilty of those charges or why they were dropped. We don't even know if he has a history of harming others. Given the facts, I would say it's unlikely he has such a history. However, I (or anyone else) do not know this for certain. If he had such a history, it's probable he wouldn't be at this place.

Years ago, my social worker told me to worry about What's real -and- not to worry about what might happen.

In this case, I think some of the posters might want to stick to known facts and not what ifs or what could happen.
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A down to earth, logical, and intelligent post. :ty:
 
Reba said:
In this case, law enforcement was NOT notified immediately. Because it's a private center, it's only required to report hospitalizations and deaths. They are NOT required by law to report escapes.

That is one of the public complaints.
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When a patient was being evaluated for mental health issues at the hospital
behind my house, he escaped and the cops where called. My condo complex was not warned about this. And when I called the cops to report the guy was in my back yard, I was told to stay in my house and lock my doors! If the cops
had any concerns about the guy being a danger to the public , it should had be breaking news on TV! I was the only one in my complex that knew the guy
escaped!
 
jillio said:
And the only thing that can be substantiated is that he was charged, noconviction evident, of attempted murder. We do not know the circumstances behind that charge. Everything else you are stating is nothing more than speculation based on extremely flimsy logic.

I guess you have a problem comprehending what "risk to self and others means".

And, quite obviously, this individual was not a risk to others. He has been returned without incident.
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When a person is charged with attempted murder I call that a risk to the public!
 
whatdidyousay! said:
When a person is charged with attempted murder I call that a risk to the public!
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Why? You don't know the circumstances behind the charges, and obviously, he wasn't a threat because the charges were dropped. Not to mention just because a person is charged does not mean they are guilty. In this country, one is presumed innocent until a court of law convicts them. This guy was not convicted of attempted murder.
 
Where are you reading that the charges were dropped? I don't think that was the case. I've seen conflicting reports as to whether he has been convicted or if he's still waiting trial, but I have not seen anything that says the charges were dropped.
 
Beach girl said:
Where are you reading that the charges were dropped? I don't think that was the case. I've seen conflicting reports as to whether he has been convicted or if he's still waiting trial, but I have not seen anything that says the charges were dropped.
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Excuse me...never convicted. And the only way that he would not have already been to trial is if he were found incompetent to stand trial, in which case he would have been in a forensic facility until he was deemed competent.

At any rate, he has never been convicted, nor does anyone know the circumstances behind the charges.
 
DC officials were claiming the individual was a danger to the public. They claimed he was a serious offender.

Why is that part being left out too?
 
Steinhauer said:
DC officials were claiming the individual was a danger to the public. They claimed he was a serious offender.

Why is that part being left out too?
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DC officials are claiming nothing of the kind, and DC officials are not in a position to determine dangerousness. That is determined based on forensic psychiatric and psychological information and assessment.

Come on Steinhauer. You are famous for getting things wrong, just like now in the Osama thread.
 
Once again...case is over. Guy harmed no one. He is again in treatment. I guess some of you would be happier if he had killed a person or two so you could say, "I told you he was dangerous!!!!":giggle:
 
Beach girl said:
'scuse me? They certainly did.
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And, again, they are not in the position to make that determination.:roll:

Would you be happier if he had beat an old woman while he was out? Then you could rest easy that your fear is justified.
 
jillio said:
And, again, they are not in the position to make that determination.:roll:

Would you be happier if he had beat an old woman while he was out? Then you could rest easy that your fear is justified.
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I would be happier if he had not been put in a minimal security facility and had not been able to "walk away".
 
Steinhauer said:
I would be happier if he had not been put in a minimal security facility and had not been able to "walk away".
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He wasn't in a minimum security facility. Really, Steinhauer...you need to start making sure you are correct before posting.
 
jillio said:
He wasn't in a minimum security facility. Really, Steinhauer...you need to start making sure you are correct before posting.
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Then how was he able to "walk away"? I am also keeping in mind that this was not the first escape from such facilities.
 
Steinhauer said:
Then how was he able to "walk away"?
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Scroll back through the thread. It has been explained time and time again.:roll:

People escape from maximum security prisons, too. How do you think they managed to do that?:roll:
 
jillio said:
Scroll back through the thread. It has been explained time and time again.:roll:

People escape from maximum security prisons, too. How do you think they managed to do that?:roll:
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Well ... they didn't have to hop a fence ... :roll:
 
jillio said:
Excuse me...never convicted. And the only way that he would not have already been to trial is if he were found incompetent to stand trial, in which case he would have been in a forensic facility until he was deemed competent....
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Not necessarily true. Many cases don't go to trial where the defendant was perfectly competent. Thru pre-trial intervention for youthful offenders, a deal could have been made that residential therapy would be required in lieu of going to trial.

Of course, if he doesn't fulfill the mandatory counseling program, then the court could re-instate the charges.
 
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