A troubled man with mental health and addiction issues found himself back behind bars for the 64th time after a report of a suspicious person came in just before 4 pm.
A caller reported a shirtless, barefoot man in the dumpster behind the Washington Apartments who appeared to be on drugs. Officers discovered it was a troubled, frequently homeless man with whom they have almost daily contact.
Police have already had multiple encounters with him this week and have tried to manage the situations without taking him into custody since, per the court, he is almost always immediately released back onto the streets.
This was his 20th arrest in the past 12 months. Most of the charges are for disorderly conduct, though he sometimes pulls off his clothes and has been arrested for indecent exposure. This time the charges were disorderly conduct and probation violation.
This comes just days after another homeless man with similar issues and a long arrest record who frequented businesses on Gallia Street was found dead behind the Valero Gas Station.
These cases once again bring to the forefront the need for some type of long-term inpatient facility for residents with chronic mental health issues.
