Mental health issues are nothing to take lightly. That was the case on two recent occasions in Fayette County.
Fayette County deputies charged a 41-year-old man with battery-family violence and other charges following an altercation with his son during a mental episode.
Sheriff Barry Babb said the man during the altercation grabbed his 17-year-old son in the area of the chest and held him down while screaming that he didn’t need help.
When deputies arrived at the home, the man ran out of the house, then climbed onto the roof, telling deputies he would not come down and would fight with officers, Babb said.
Deputies employed negotiation tactics to talk the man off the roof. He was then transported to Piedmont Fayette Hospital, Babb added.
The son was not injured in the altercation.
In another situation, Fayetteville officers on May 27 took a report about a physical altercation that occurred on the night of May 22 at Piedmont Fayette Hospital.
Police met with the complainant, who said while her cousin was recently hospitalized for mental health issues, she became confrontational with her, said Fayetteville Police Department spokesperson Ann Marie Burdett.
The complainant told police her cousin was staying with her for a short while due to having no other caregivers, adding that she did not have custody or power of attorney of her cousin.
“The complainant reported to the police while she stood outside the Emergency Room where her cousin was receiving medical attention, she commented on whether her cousin should be on her own,” Burdett said. “The complainant reported to police that her cousin allegedly threw several items at the complainant before ripping off the medical cords attached to her body and then charging at the room’s door in a confrontational manner.”
The complainant said hospital security was called, but the incident was over when they arrived. The complainant’s cousin was transported to another medical facility, Burdett added.
Mental health issues are real.