DocM Posted December 7, 2014 Share Posted December 7, 2014 Niles is in the extreme southwest corner of Michigan near the Indiana state border. This morning's news says Williams has a 20+ year mental health history and was on a trip from down south to see his family. They had tried to get help, but he refused his meds etc. The usual. There were other reports his girlfriend made a warning call to his family, saying he scared her and beware. One more massive fail for the 1970's "mental health reforms" which make it so bloody hard to impose care on severely ill people. http://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/michigan/2014/12/05/amtrak-stabbing-niles/19984391/ Man charged with attempted murder in Amtrak attack Police say a man accused of stabbing an Amtrak conductor and three train passengers in southwestern Michigan has been charged with four counts of attempted murder. Niles Police Chief Jim Millin identified the man as 44-year-old Michael Williams of Saginaw. He was being held on a $1 million cash bond Saturday at the Berrien County jail and his initial court appearance was scheduled for Monday. Williams was arrested Friday evening on an Amtrak train near Niles after police were alerted to the stabbings at about 7 p.m. Friday by a 911 caller. When officers arrived at the scene, passengers were rapidly exiting the train car in question, police said. Officers entered the car and used a stun gun on Williams. Williams had boarded the train in Chicago with a destination of Flint, police said. The victims included a conductor, and a woman and two men, Niles Mayor Michael McCauslin said. They were taken to Lakeland Healthcare Hospital in Niles and Memorial Hospital of South Bend, Indiana. Police said Saturday that all of the victims were in stable condition. Michigan State Police and Berrien County Sheriff's deputies assisted in response and investigation, McCauslin said. > Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DreadPirateRoberts Posted December 7, 2014 Share Posted December 7, 2014 So this guy just decided that it was a good idea to just start stabbing everyone on the train? Where people on the train even trying to stop this guy? Someone this unstable should have been taken to a mental hospital a long time ago. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DocM Posted December 7, 2014 Author Share Posted December 7, 2014 So this guy just decided that it was a good idea to just start stabbing everyone on the train? Yup. Homicidal ideation + zero impulse control. Where people on the train even trying to stop this guy? Few AMTRAK trains have onboard AMTRAK Police, they mostly do pre-boarding security looking for explosives etc. It's a big weakness in the system. Someone this unstable should have been taken to a mental hospital a long time ago. In 95% of the cases he'd have been kept 0-5 days and released. The mental health reforms of 40 years ago were more focussed on outpatient care at all costs, not protecting their families or society. As a result it's very difficult to involuntarily commit someone until they hurt themselves or others. DreadPirateRoberts 1 Share Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anibal P Posted December 7, 2014 Share Posted December 7, 2014 docM you forget, jail is now the "mental institution" of choice now that most State Hospitals have been closed, you know to free up money for the mooches Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DocM Posted December 7, 2014 Author Share Posted December 7, 2014 docM you forget, jail is now the "mental institution" of choice now that most State Hospitals have been closed, you know to free up money for the mooches Not forgetting anything. I witnessed deinstitutionalization close up. Overcrowded prisons, increased numbers of spree & mass killings (or attempts as in this case) and homelessness (30-40% of the total) are its llegacies. It was wrong from concept to execution. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Memphis Posted December 8, 2014 Share Posted December 8, 2014 Not forgetting anything. I witnessed deinstitutionalization close up. Overcrowded prisons, increased numbers of spree & mass killings (or attempts as in this case) and homelessness (30-40% of the total) are its llegacies. It was wrong from concept to execution. To top it off, nursing school will teach you its the most wonderful thing to have happened to mental health care and give you a few stories from the very few who succeed with treatment. I am all for outpatient treatment so long as no violent tendencies are displayed. Violent tendancies should be inpatient and involuntary for the most part. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DocM Posted December 8, 2014 Author Share Posted December 8, 2014 Absolutely agree. Those fairy tales they teach make me want to forcefully apply fist through wall. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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