Man suffering psychotic breakdown left alone near highway by South Carolina first responders

[Roland99]

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/paul-tarashuk-man-suffering-psychotic-episode-left-alone-near-highway-by-south-carolina-first-responders/

Paul Tarashuk had schizoaffective disorder, suffering delusions and hallucinations. But he was getting on with his life, until one night last September, when he had a psychotic breakdown traveling along a highway in Orangeburg County, South Carolina.

Parked for a roadside break, a trucker suddenly saw Tarashuk walk toward him, naked. The trucker took off, but as he drove down the interstate, he realized Tarashuk was riding on his rig and called 911.

...

"I'm being f***ing serious. I'm sleepy. Give me your damn name so I can go home for real. I'm tired," one first responder said.

...

The deputy put Tarashuk into his cruiser and drove him 15 miles to a closed gas station near the county line. Surveillance video outside the gas station captured Tarashuk the last time he was seen alive. He had no shoes, no phone and no idea where he was.

[no_hypocrisy]

1. I just don't understand why Tarashuk wasn't taken to a hospital, if for anything, an evaluation.

Or treatment.

I've believed that "first responders" and/or police were trained to transport individuals to secure locations that could offer help/assistance that they could not provide.

[Iggo]

2. Cops. That's who they are. That's what they do. (n/t)

[cwydro]

10. There was also a cop who saved the life of a baby.

White cop, black baby. He saved the baby’s life during a traffic stop. South Carolina.

Of course, that got no post on DU.

[Jirel]

11. No reason for a post on that.

Cops saving babies’ lives is how it’s supposed to work. Making a big deal of that is like doing a news story celebrating a surgeon every time she successfully removes an appendix. Cops are supposed to protect people, not be negligent or criminal themselves. THOSE are newsworthy.

[Javaman]

13. +1 nt

[avebury]

3. At a minimum, the Deputy should be fired and be facing criminal charges for gross

negligence because there is no denying what he did, the gas station surveillance video speaks volumes. If not facing criminal charges, the EMS that handled the call should, at a minimum, lose their jobs.


I hope that the parents are successful in their civil state and federal courts. If I were on the jury I would be in favor of tacking on punitive damages on top of any simple compensation (particularly against the deputy and the sheriff's department).

[GoCubsGo]

4. Well, that's South Carolina for you.

At least once a month, a mentally ill person dies in one of the prisons here, or in the care of the Department of Mental Health, due to improper care. They're still in the 1950s when it comes to treating the mentally ill here. Hell, they're still in the 1950s PERIOD. I really need to get the hell out of this shithole state.

That being said, when I first saw, "Man suffering from psychotic breakdoown," I was expecting another post about Trump.

[Opel_Justwax]

5. If a patient does not communicate a danger to themselves or others then they can't...

be taken into custody or taken to a hospital. He had the right to refuse any medical treatment otherwise. The police and the paramedics hands are tied by the law. It is a tragedy, but the police and paramedics can't do anything without a statement or action by the person.

[zanana1]

6. Bullcrap. nt

[Opel_Justwax]

7. Right. No one in America has constitutional rights

and the police can't arrest people without a criminal complaint.

[zanana1]

8. No, they "can 't"

But they do it anyway.

[MyOwnPeace]

9. Another "proud act" by dear Ronnie Reagan!

https://www.quora.com/Did-President-Reagan-close-mental-health-hospitals-and-cause-a-dramatic-rise-in-homelessness-and-crime-in-America

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mental_Health_Systems_Act_of_1980

Just more Republican help for those living in "shit-hole" areas of our own country!

[Catherine Vincent]

12. Tragic

They thought he was minority asking if he speak english. And they thought he was on drugs. Idiots.

The cop was wrong for what he did. Do you think he feels guilty?