(Sept. 30, 2014) In attempt to escape Christian Hicks, a mentally ill homeless man who broke into her home last Wedneday, Melanie Rivera escaped through the second-story window of her home onto her roof (“Mental illness at heart of drama on LA rooftop,” the San Francisco Chronicle, Sept. 26).
The police responded and arrested the intruder almost immediately. But as it turns out, Hicks, 29, is a familiar face in Venice Beach, the neighborhood where Rivera lives.
Neighbors had called the police earlier that day to report Hicks had walked into their yard but police were unable to detain him when the caller refused to identify Hicks.
Rivera attributed the break-in to mental illness and lack of assistance for the homeless and mentally ill.
“I think it’s very obvious for most of us who live around here, when someone seems to be suffering from a mental illness, and to continue to let these people walk around without offering them assistance, to protect them and us,” Rivera said. “That, I think, is the heart of the problem.”
Anyone familiar with Venice knows that homelessness is on vivid display and people with mental illness are numerous among them. In an attempt to ease the problem and the suffering it causes, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Orange, Placer and Yolo counties have adopted Laura’s Law. Contra Costa county is considering adopting the court-ordered outpatient treatment law.
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