(Mar. 17, 2016) Michael DeAndre Ford, 22, reportedly reached out for help before traveling to a police station in Prince George’s County, Maryland Sunday afternoon with a plan to commit suicide-by-cop (“Man arrested in police station gun battle described as troubled, mentally ill,” the Washington Post, Mar. 15).
Hyacinth Tucker – a friend and former legal guardian of Ford – was busy the day Ford called and said he wanted to come by to talk.
Reflecting on the call now, Tucker said, “had I talked to him when he wanted to come by, maybe things would have been different.”
Instead, Ford drove to the Maryland police station and opened fire. An officer was killed and Ford was wounded.
Michael Ford struggled with severe mental illness and had minor run-ins with the law over the years, according to family and court records.
Shante Ramos, the brothers’ 30-year-old aunt, said Michael has bipolar disorder and reacts badly when he doesn’t take his medications. He was homeless at the time of the shooting.
“Michael definitely needed help,” Ramos said. “It’s breaking my heart.”
Michael Ford was officially charged with second-degree murder on Tuesday.
Why was this severely ill, young man allowed to decompensate untreated and unhoused on the streets?
Maryland is one of only four states that do not offer assisted outpatient treatment (AOT) – an evidence-based, life-saving program – to residents suffering with severe psychiatric disorders.
Ford needed help. The signs were there but the resources were not, in yet another preventable tragedy. How many more will it take before policy-and-lawmakers in Maryland take action?
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