Yesterday, the San Pablo police in California responded to a call from a woman seeking mental health assistance for her 44-year-old husband, Andre Smith, who was allegedly showing signs of schizophrenia. The situation escalated, resulting in Smith being shot in the leg, and now fighting for his life in critical condition according to KTVU.
His wife had initially called for help with a mental health evaluation, expressing concern over how her husband might react to the presence of police officers per KTVU.
Upon the police's arrival, Smith locked himself in a room, prompting the officers to leave the residence. However, after leaving, the authorities received a second call informing them that Smith had exited the room and was harassing his wife. In the midst of this chaos, family members and children were reported to be present at the home throughout the entire ordeal.
When the officers returned to the scene, they found Smith in the yard, refusing to comply with their commands. Smith began throwing brick pieces at the police, which led to the deployment of "less lethal measures," such as bean bag rounds and a Taser as reported by Henry K. Lee on Twitter. These measures proved ineffective, as Smith grabbed a folding chair to use as a shield and charged at an officer while raising a three-foot metal pole. Another officer subsequently shot Smith in the upper right leg, leaving him critically wounded according to another tweet from Henry K. Lee.
UPDATE: Police first tried to Tase & shoot Andre Smith w/bean-bag rounds when he threw brick pieces at them, but an officer then shot & wounded him when he charged at police while raising metal pole, per @SanPabloPolice pic.twitter.com/Mq287gx9Hi
— Henry K. Lee (@henrykleeKTVU) September 9, 2023
Police across the nation have been criticized for their handling of mental health situations, with many calling for better training and the use of properly equipped mental health professionals. The argument suggests that armed officers, whose primary function is to maintain order and enforce the law, may not be the most appropriate resource in sensitive situations like Smith's.
There have been successful examples of alternative response models that integrate mental health professionals into emergency response teams. These programs have seen a reduction in the use of force and an improvement in the care provided to individuals experiencing mental health crises. The inclusion of these professionals not only adds a level of expertise otherwise unattainable but also fosters an understanding necessary for navigating such situations.
As for Andre Smith, the Contra Costa County District Attorney's Office is investigating the shooting, while the officers involved have been placed on paid administrative leave as per KTVU's report.
