I regret to inform you that our Sheriff is disappointed in us again | Hour 2

What's going on? Thank you so much for listening to this podcast. It is heard live every day from noon to three on WBT Radio in Charlotte. And if you want exclusive content like invitations to events, the weekly live stream, my daily show prep with all of the links, become a patron, go to vpetecleanershow dot com. Make sure you hit the subscribe button, get every episode for free, write your smartphone or tablet, and again, thank you so much for your support. All Right, so I have some bad news. So I'm just gonna rip the band aid off here and just tell you what it is. Some bad news. I regret to inform you that Mecklenburg County Sheriff Gary not my fault. McFadden is once again disappointed in us. Sorry. He gave an interview to WBTV and he wants us to be more educated. Sorry, that's. I know. He has grown very flustrated with us for not being educated more educated. He also wants us to give more effort. We are lazy and dumb. We are a disappointment to our sheriff. But when it comes to fighting the mental health issues facing inmates in Charlotte or I shouldn't really say inmates because he is doing a fantastic job, thank you very much. He'll tell you that. So it's not on him. Okay, this is not his fault, which we all know, nothing is ever his fault. So the mental health issues, it's not really about in jail. It's what happens when they get out of jail. So this would be I guess the out mates or I guess former residents or would they be residents of the street. Not sure, because he calls the inmates residents, right, So when he has custody of. Them, he's doing everything right by them. He's making sure they get all of their meds, which, yes, obviously you should be doing that. That's part of your job. When you have custody of somebody, you then have obligations to ensure that they are taking the medicine that they have been prescribed. That's like you. You don't get any any special attaboys for that. You don't get any extra pats on the back or superfluous kudos. You don't get any of that. You're supposed to do that, to quote the philosopher Chris Rock, You're supposed to do that, okay. Meckelder County sheriff carrying not my fault, Macfadden is asking the community to become more educated and give more effort into fighting the mental health issues facing inmates or outmates in Charlotte. The call to action comes after a man, di Quan Hunt, was charged with several crimes stemming from an August assault on a woman on a Dilworth sidewalk. You see, Hunt spent time in a medical facility before arriving at the Mecklenburg County jail after he was arrested for the assault that he videotaped and posted to social media, which then went viral once again. We have a very similar case to the De Carlos Brown stabbing of Arena Zarutzka. Right. There is a racial component here because both of the attackers were black men, all of the victims, because Dakwan Hunt had he had gone after at least two white women. Arena Zerutzka also a white woman. Right, So you have that similar component. You have a similar component in the way of the mental health issues. You have another similarity in that both of the families of the attackers had been trying to get help right for their family member for years, saying that you know de Carlos Brown Junior and Da Kwan Hunt that they were both mentally unstable, they were violent, they had long rap sheets, and they wanted them to be committed so they could get help right. Which is also another similarity, that they were both frequent flyers of the Mecklenburg County judicial system, the catch and release turnstyle system that we opt here in Mecklenburg County. They both had long rap sheets. McFadden said, repeat offenders with mental health issues stay in the criminal justice system because of a lack of resources when they leave custody, well, they're not staying. Actually, it's only after Arena Zarutzska was murdered and then the state legislature passed the law that makes you keep people in jail for a longer period of time. That actually is keeping them in the system. Now you're talking about coming and going, and coming and going and catching and releasing and. The repeat, repeat, repeat, repeat, repeat. Offenders because they are mentally unstable and they keep committing more and more crimes. And while you at the jail can give them the meds to keep them not as insane, once they get released, you can't force them to take their meds. He said, once those people are released back out on the streets. There is no warm handoff ew. I don't even know what that is. I'm not sure what he's talking a warm hand, I don't I don't know anyway, So they may go someplace for one or two days, stay on their meds for one or two days, and then they go back to what they are accustomed to. Right now, he is correct about that same thing happens, by the way, with people who are addicted to drugs, right they'll they'll go into the jail, they get clean because they don't have access to the drugs, and then they get out of jail, they go right back to using drugs, and then a lot of times they will overdose almost immediately because their tolerance is way low, and they die. But he has solutions for other people to do, because this is not his fault. So he's got solutions. He first, he says he wants there to be programs or court ordered requirements for people leaving custody. Okay, well, here's another idea, and I mentioned this in the last hour when I was chatting with Andrew Dunn. Commitment. Right, we need to institutionalize people who have a record of refusing to take their meds and then become violent, right when you are a danger to public safety and your family. But you're a danger to public safety. I don't think releasing you on a promise that you'll keep up with your meds when you don't have any place to live. Right, you've already assaulted family members and such. You have this. Lengthy rap sheet. I think at some point you have to be committed. But we have a lot of people that do not want to. They don't want to engage with this topic at all. Like, think about this. It's been almost a year now since Arena Zarusko is murdered. Have you heard anybody at a legislative level, anybody in the media, anybody in the Democrat Party? But I repeat myself, like, are you hearing anybody talking about involuntary commitment as a potential as a part a potential, part of a suite of responses? No, Like I read these stories, I cover this stuff, I follow the arguments. I follow people on social media, lawmakers on social media. I don't see anybody talking about involuntary commitment. And I don't know how you force people to take meds that make them not kill people Seriously, when you have a history of, say, paranoid schizophrenia, and you're attacking people all over the place, and you're getting worse and worse and worse, more and more dangerous, and you refuse to take the meds to keep you from doing those things. What is the solution here? You just keep letting them room free until they actually do murder somebody, and then we lock you away forever. That's what happened with De Carlos Brown Junior. Is that going to happen to Da Kwan Hunt? Is he gonna get let out? Because I mean he's only looking at as Andrew Dunn pointed out, he's looking at like one or two years in prison for his assaults. That's it. So then what same cycle repeats? That's the way it seems, all right. 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No emails, phone numbers, account setups or hassles. With group travel Videos, you'll capture today's moments on your special trip while they're happening. Then after the trip we're gathering, they'll professionally turn your shared moments into a beautiful storytelling video that your whole group can stream and download and treasure for years. Check out Group travel Videos dot com. That's Group travel Videos dot com. Or call seven oh four eight four six seventy eight seventy extension two O six. And when you do that, ask for Katie. But Pete, can I just email? Well, yes you can. You can email Katie Katie at group travel videos dot com group travel videos from old memories to new adventures, preserving life's moments for a lifetime. Did get a text message from Jennifer who says, a few years ago before COVID, we had a mentally unbalanced person stalking someone I work with at the business. His family was able to get him involuntarily committed. I don't understand why these families are not able to do the same. That's a good question, right. The family tells the media that they had tried to get their loved one help, they tried to get them committed, They tried to do something and they were unable to do. So why like how so? Like? Is that not worth a follow up from from reporters? Maybe do a you know, an investigation into like what does it take to get somebody committed like this? Now, I will say that Gary not my fault. McFadden are illustrious, if often frustrated sheriff or suref He did offer a couple of solutions, some ideas, and you know me, I'm all about solutions and that there are no bad ideas under the cone of creativity here. So let's uh, let's take his ideas out for a test drive. First, he wants there to be programs or court ordered requirements for people leaving custody. Okay, sounds like a decent idea. Sounds actually like what I've been saying. So I'm very curious if there are some details. Let's see here, Okay. Quote, when a person leaves our detention center and is not being held on probation, all the charges are dismissed or they are convicted and they served their time. Okay, So this is one class of offender he's talking about, right, people who get released that are that are free, right, there are no court requirements of them at this point. They are out of jail, they are out ofcarceration, and they're not on probation. They had their charges dismissed or something, or they've already gotten out of jail or prison, and so they don't have any other requirements on them. They are free to go. He says, for those people, we should have a program that receives that person if they still want to be treated. Okay, So not involuntary. This would be voluntary. This would be if you wanted Okay, So if you are free to go, then this would just be offered or he says, the court could order them while they are on probation to go to this treatment center fulfill all these standards that the judge is going to give them to be treated and see if they fulfill those obligations. Okay, So on probation you could be ordered, but after only offered. Okay, So how is that any different than what the current system is? Hang on a second. He told me I got to be more educated and I have to give more effort. That's what he said, that the community has to become more educated and give more effort into fighting the mental health issues facing inmates or outmates. Well, okay, you've just outlined the system we currently use that's not working. Let's say here he has another idea. He wants to see more people give their attention to the issue in their communities. Quote, we're going back to school. Everybody has a book bag drive. Everybody's going to find book bags to give those kids. Everybody's going to find school supplies to give those kids. Imagine if we put all these resources together and come under one umbrella to say, we're going to help these men and women in Charlotte with pencils and book bags and school supplies I'm not following, so you want are you saying we need to do like a like a supply drive for what loriaza pan or something like like for the meds? Is that. I'm not clear? Okay, so I know I say there are no bad ideas under the ConA creativity and all, but like this, this might be the exception that proves the rule. From the text line, Beth's favorite Russ says, in both of these cases, the family was trying to get the person committed for their own safety and for public safety. Both highlight how difficult it is to get someone committed until after they really hurt somebody or themselves. I've had some really interesting conversations with people who totally oppose involuntary commitment but love red flag laws. Yeah, for gun owners, the red flag laws, They're all about those, but not for involuntary commitments. The Hellion says the shurf needs to move onto a career on QVC selling watches. Man, that guy has some sick clothes and jewelry for a public servant. He's also a fan of the New York Yankees ball caps, which remember he said you could buy him if you wanted to. Awesome Andy says, Pete, I think you are not understanding, is that this is that it's our fault. Right. Monica says, yeah, it's always somebody else's responsibility and that that is on brand for not my fault. Mcfeeddin see all. And so all I take away from this is him saying, this is not my fault. We take care of them when they're in the jail. You guys, that's your fault out there, not our fault. Let's jump over to the phones and chat with David. Hello, David, welcome. Hello, are you Pete good? What's up? All right? I just had a a brief comment regarding the tendency to push away from involuntary commit I think, first of all, and most importantly, an individual's rights need to be protected. Secondly, I think we are to recognize the fact that there are individuals in the world who are nefarious in their thinking and are thinking about how to get even with someone or cause of trouble. Pertly, if we open up the idea of anyone in the public recommending commitment on an individual, then we need to be able to investigate both that are social and legal level to determine whether this individual is actually qualified for that. Well, yeah, I mean, I'm not saying I don't think anybody believes that an involuntary commitment should just be like, hey, I want the ort to come and commit my uh my estranged wife because she's crazy and just and then that's enough to put. Her in in confinement. I don't think anybody advocates that. Well, you know, when you when you think about why is everybody so resistant, I think it's because they're trying to protect their own rights as well as not being able, not really being qualified to uh like that judge. Okay, so how about how about you set a standard of say, and we can negotiate the number here. But I would say, if if somebody has gone to a psychiatrist, psychologist, whatever, they've been prescribed medication for mental illness, and they have engaged in violent behavior, I'd say twice to the point where they've been arrested and charged with violent behavior. Right, Yes, So, I mean I feel like we can negotiate over the number of arrests. We can negotiate over you know, the diagnoses and the medicine and whatever. But I don't feel like that's a barrier to creating that kind of a standard. I don't think so either. I just think it the ball needs to be abotion to do so and the apparatus available to understand the situation in depth or putting someone into an involuntary situations. Yeah, I don't Again, I don't think anybody is saying that someone else's allegation should be enough to involuntarily commit somebody. There has to be some evidence for it, and I would submit that evidence for it would be the things that I just listed, particularly the anti social violent behavior against their family members, their acquaintances, and random members of the public. I think those are pretty good indications that somebody is mentally unware. Yeah, yeah, yeah, danger to themselves and others. Yeah, David, I appreciate the call. Speaking of crime, there was a couple of interesting stories in the Charlotte Observer. The first was yesterday, written by Peter Saint Oinge or onge or On gay on Jay. He's the opinion editor, and he talks about this basically a secret task force that has been meeting for a year about crime in uptown Charlotte. On a Wednesday morning last July, more than two dozen of Charlotte's most powerful and influential leaders quietly gathered at the government center in Uptown. It was an extraordinary cross section of Charlotte executives of hospitals, banks, and business groups, the highest ranks of city and county government, senior members of the criminal justice system, a select number of dedicated community leaders. Now, normally such a gathering would come with some fan fear. This one merely had purpose. So, in other words, no public notification. I guess Uptown, the symbolic heart of the city, not to mention its economic engine, faced a crisis rooted in both perception and reality. The city's center no longer felt comfortable or safe. Huh interesting, So it wasn't just our imagination, huh okay. Not long after that first meeting, in July twenty twenty five, Charlotte was royled by the brutal killing of Arena Zarutzka, fueling a Republican narrative, of course, of a democratic run city spiraling out of control. This all republican narratives again, like the lighting. Now, so we got to the we've now moved past the point where it's like, okay, the first step is this thing isn't happening, and you know, woe unto you for noticing then it's okay, Fine, it's happening, but it's not a lot. That's where we are. Like, the next phase is okay, it's happening a lot more often. But here's why that's a good thing. It's all about the Republican narrative. More recently, violence during team takeovers in Uptown once again cast a disparaging spotlight on the city center. Yeah. In other words, actual stories, actual events, incidents, crimes. That's what's creating the quote perception of insecurity. Key players tell the story behind how a quiet city task force has boldly and thoughtfully tackled an urgent threat to Charlotte and its future. Quote we feel safer, We are perceived as safer, and the stats tell a story of a place that's really restored its public safety, says Michael Smith, president and CEO of Charlotte Centricity Partners, one of the driving forces behind the meetings that discomfort itself prompted some debate. Uptown's defenders said that it was statistically a safe place despite some high profile crimes. Detractors pointed to vagrancy and other issues that made it a less desirable place to be. Quote coming out of the pandemic. This is Michael Smith. Coming out of the pandemic. Every downtown struggled with issues of vagrancy, safety, and a lack of vibrancy, and Charlotte was not spared. And then you think sorry, then you pair that with coming out of COVID. The world needed grace, and we offered grace, and some of that grace it took the form of inadvertently lowering our standards for public safety. Cursed you Republican narratives like what is he admitting here? We all see again, this is all framed him like we did it because we were just too kind. See, things got so bad, and okay, some people got murdered, but it was because we were so kind, we cared too much, we offered too much grace, which inadvertently took the form of lowering our standards for public safety. Yes, exactly, we've lowered the standards for public safety. We have allowed too much to occur. And that isn't a Republican thing that Republicans did. That's not on them for noticing what you did. There was a follow up story at The Charlotte Observer today about the Uptown crime headline is Uptown Charlotte Safe. Why city leaders residents grew nervous about crime and it talks about this secret task force that was meeting for a year. Michael Smith from Charlotte City Center City Partners talking about inadvertently lowering our standards for public safety. He said, quote it's general disorder that creates environments that are more welcoming to misbehavior. Small things started to pile up. Yeah, this is not some sort of a new theory. Again, this isn't a Republican narrative. Democrats have been in control of this city for over a decade. They controlled the courts for even longer. Okay, the things that they pushed for worked to make us less safe. That was the impact. Whatever your intentions were do not matter in my mind. Okay, I look at the results. So the fact that this task force was meeting for a year prior to Arena's roots because murder, and they never told anybody about it. They quietly went about doing different things like the Entertainment District Unit. They were talking to businesses to quote own the block. So that's why all of the security guards are now out on the street, They're on the sidewalks, they're not sitting behind a desk anymore. Have you noticed that that was part of this task force? Apparently because I noticed it, like, oh, I see a lot more of these security guards out in front of the doorways. Now they apparently pulled up some benches or redesigned benches. They pulled up bike racks and stuch So they've been doing things on the down low, not wanting to alert everybody until what after the fact, after a year, and now the murder rate is down or the violent crime rate is down in Center City, So now they're going to attribute the decline to their efforts. I guess Look, I don't care who wants to claim credit for it, the Secret Task Force, CMPD, the elected leadership. I don't care. What I do care about is when you frame it as if it's this partisan thing. This is not partisan. Public safety should not be a partisan issue. And when the observer frames it as like, oh, fueling Republican narratives of insecurity, that's not a Republican narrative. It actually prompted the creation of a secret task force in true the Charlotte Way fashion, business leaders, local government officials right meeting to figure this stuff out. You know who wasn't really there, the left wing activists, the decarceration crowd. Yeah, they weren't invited apparently, and they shouldn't have been. Jim, Welcome to the program. Hello Jim, what's going on? Hey just shares something relevant. December twenty four, My wife as a cousin that snapped after masty divorce and all that stuff. But anyway, I went to her in church with a security guard and asked her to leave my family alone. July twenty five, I get fifteen threatening phone calls randomly one night, thrett even kill me and all this stuff. So I go to the magistrate. I get a request for a restrained order. It took me until November and eight court appears is to get the restraining order and only got it when a substitute judge was in the seat that had not heard any of the delays that the constantly gave her. She was given a restrained order like the week before Thanksgiving, and the next day she was in my yard, in my house threatening me again. Basically went back to court with violation of the court order. Same judge that refused to give one earlier but lost. Story short, it's been going on. This is December of twenty four. Uh. But in the meantime, the last two times I went the uh, you know, the judge she has other things pending. The judge is waiting for her to take an evaluation, uh, mental stability, that kind of thing. She's had three DUI's. She had wanted my county to in the county in the mountains where she moved from, and the last two involved accidents. You know, she is known in the local town as a snake lady because she'll called the police and they'll come to her house, and but she thinks she's a cie operator. She's mentally yield and the courts have done nothing. And you know, she has bucket in my home. She's been in my yard after a straight in order, and they keep waiting for her to voluntarily take some type of evaluation. The system is messed up. Yeah. No, And it sounds like, uh, it sounds like a lot of the other cases that that we have heard of, in particular these last two, the De Carlos Brown Junior and the du Quan Hunt cases. Right same thing, where people are like, this person is a threat, this person has gotten arrested. They're violent, they're engaged in violent attacks. On other people. Restraining orders have been taken out like there is a there is a pattern, there is a history, but there doesn't seem to be a willingness to take the step of the involuntary commitment to at the very least get the mental assessments, right. I mean another instances, she's been involuntarily committee by the local police and she contacted TV station in Charlotte with the complaint and then they found out it was actually valid that she was committed because of her actions in front of the police at night. And but basically the judge is scared of someone not needing to be committed that is committed. And in her case, she's estranged to her ex husband, her sons, no one in her family basically knows how to reach out and help her. But she has communicated a desire to kill me. And I don't know why. She's sat down at a restaurant about a year ago when I was eating breakfast, just randomly walked up, sitting down at my table, start drinking my coffee and telling me stuff to tell my wife she's crazy. And the judge would just talk to her instead of continuing the case. They could quickly figure out she's dangerous. But well, I hate that you're Yeah, I hate that you're going through that, Jim. And unfortunately a lot of times it's like it's only until after something terrible happens that everybody's like, oh my gosh, how did the system fail? When it's happening, people don't see it as failing at the time. Well, the course should not let wait for the person to voluntarily be yeah evaluated? Yeah my point. Yeah, No, I agree. I completely agree, Jim. I appreciate the call man, and I hate that for you. I hope it uh, I hope it works out better. All right, that'll do it for this episode. Thank you so much for listening. I could not do the show without your support and the support of the businesses that advertise on the podcast, so if you'd like, please support them too and tell them you heard it here. You can also become a patron and my Patreon page or go to dpeteclenarshow dot com. Again, thank you so much for listening, and don't break anything while I'm gone.