Two news reports yesterday make me wonder about our reluctance to institutionalize people in the throes of a mental breakdown

That Texas lawyer who pulled a gun on his ex-girlfriend in a bar and, when stopped by bystanders tried to shoot himself in the head, was freed on bail later that day, and went home and killed himself.

Deranged Greenwich woman was arrested twice in one day for assault, and released both times.

On Nov 21 Greenwich Police arrested a local woman twice. Initially police were dispatched to the area of 71 Vinci Drive on a report of a woman assaulting another person.

… According to the police report, “Ferenz had racing thoughts and rambled throughout her entire interaction with GPD units, but couldn’t articulate what ha occurred that caused police to be called.”

Police made contact with the reporting party who related that Ferenz had punched, kicked and ripped her hair out.

The reporting party subsequently provided a sworn written statement to officers on scene attesting to the facts and circumstances.

Ferenz was charged with Criminal Mischief 3, Breach of Peace 2 and Assault 3.

She was assigned a court date on Dec 5, 2022 in Stamford Superior Court and released on a Promise to Appear.

Later, around 9:30am, police responded to Greenwich Hospital’s emergency room on a report of a patient assaulting a physician.

Police on scene investigation revealed that Ms Ferenz punched and kicked her treating physician. A sworn written statement completed by the treating physician was provided to officers on scene attesting to the facts and circumstances. Police say that due to Ferenz’s mental state, it is not believed she intended to seriously harm the physician.

She was charged with Assault 3 and released on a promise to appear in court.

The Austin judge who set the lawyer free can’t be defended, but I think our own GPD might not have had a choice in releasing a woman charged with two misdemeanors, though I don’t know what the applicable law is for 3rd-degree assault. I do know that it’s very hard, if not impossible, to lock up a mental disturbed person without a court hearing if that person has committed no crime, but it strikes me as crazy that we let violent individuals loose on the streets to harm others or themselves.