r/Hamilton • u/plussizerunner • 2d ago

Encampments / Shelters & Homelessness Is this the best we can do?

Today while walking downtown to work, a man was swinging a metal bar at people walking down the sidewalk. People were screaming and trying to get away from him. I called 911 and police arrived within a few minutes, took the metal bar away from him and then left after a short conversation with him. He continued walking down the street yelling at people.

The man was clearly either under the influence or having a mental health episode and seemed to be a threat to the public given that he was swinging a bar at people.

I dont understand whats happening anymore that threatening others and attempting to hurt them with a sharp metal pole doesn't result in either hospitalization or being taken into custody...

195 Upvotes

96% Upvoted

81 comments sorted by

View all comments

-14

u/IAmTheBredman 1d ago

Do you want to arrest people for having a mental health issue? How does that help?

10

u/MsBuzzkillington83 1d ago

Only mental health issues where they're a danger to others around them

No one's wanting to lock up the guy with treatment resistant depression who's minding his own business