Officials ponder increased mental health care (Montgomery County Sentinel)
Published on: Thursday, February 06, 2014
By Donna Broadway
... In January seven people were killed and seven were injured in incidents involving individuals with previous mental health care needs. Police arrested Zakieya Avery and Monifa Sanford last month after police say they tried to exorcise demons from Avery’s children.
The exorcism left two of her children dead and two in critical condition. The next week, police say Shaun King walked in to a 7-11 and stabbed the store clerk to death. The week after the stabbing, Silver Spring resident, Darion Aguilar opened fire at The Mall in Columbia in Howard County. He killed two Zumiez employees and injured five others before taking his own life.
Recently, county police say James Stirkens, a 27-year veteran of the Montgomery County Police Department, shot his 25-year-old son Christopher Stirken after he allegedly stabbed his mother Denise Stirkens. Police are investigating claims of friends and family members that Chris Stirkens suffered from mental instability.
McCarthy said there is a 20 percent decline in arrests from 2010 to 2013, but there is an increase of people needing immediate mental healthcare upon intake to county correctional facilities ...
http://www.thesentinel.com/mont/news/Officials2-6-2014
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