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Tree Branch Breaker - Page 18 — Brooklynian

Tree Branch Breaker

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  • whynot_31
    whynot_31

    This I do not dispute.

    ....but please contact me should you and your coworkers need to access the mental health system.

  • whynot_31
    whynot_31
    edited August 2014

    Greetings long term readers.

    I have an update for you. I have recently learned the following:

    1. Steve Maynard has remained in the custody of the OMH since his arrest in July.

    2. Throughout this period, he has been held on the basis of Article 730. Using a layman's definition, Mr. Maynard has been in the care of OMH, because he was deemed too mentally ill to assist in his defense or enter a plea bargain.

    3. Steve is now believed to be well enough to assist in his defense or enter a plea bargain.

    4. A hearing on Steve's arborcide/vandalism case will occur on Tuesday May 3, 2011. I am very pleased that his case will be heard at the newly established Brooklyn Mental Health Court, a project of CCI. http://www.courtinnovation.org/project/brooklyn-mental-health-court

    5. As a result of his case being heard in this court, he will not be referred to the Department of Corrections to serve jail time. Instead, he will be required to attend mental health treatment. The court will take the following things into account:

    a. The insights of the psychiatric center where he has been held.

    b. The documentation provided by the Park Department re: his crimes.

    c. Steve's past compliance with outpatient treatment and medication compliance.

    d. Whether Steve's mother is willing to have him return home.

    ....After listening to the above, the judge will decide which of the following to order:

    -Live with mom and receive ACT via AOT (defined above), AND/OR

    -Live at an OMH operated community residence, with onsite psychiatry, AND/OR

    -Discharge him to the shelter system, with ACT and AOT follow-up.

    I know someone who will be attending the hearing, and will let you guys know the outcome. Please remember, this hearing could simply result in an adjournment.

    Although the Brooklyn Mental Health Court is only able to serve a small percentage of eligible clients, I am quite pleased that Mr. Maynard's case will be heard by them.

  • whynot_31
    whynot_31

    I have heard the case was merely adjourned until May 24th

  • mha
    mha

    This IS news. So Steve remains in OMH custody? Is it possible to render an opinion on his case? When I made attempt to contact those handling his case way back when I was told they had received enough testimony regarding Steve's crimes. I wonder if any of this testimony is considered admissible presently...

  • whynot_31
    whynot_31

    Yes, he has been with OMH for almost a year.

    Between OMHs reports and the info provided by the Parks Dept, they likely have all they need.

    But you are welcome to talk to the ADA assigned to the case.

    Note, as a result of being heard by the new MH court, jail is not a possibility.

    He will end up with some variety of supervision and treatment.

    I believe I will be able to find out what happens at the next hearing, but will wiggins any opinion on what I believe "should" happen in light of not having access to everything the judge will have.

  • whynot_31
    whynot_31

    Wiggins = withhold

    Stupid autocorrect

  • hiscrownheights
    hiscrownheights

    No. No Christian hipsters allowed! : )

    @MHA

    :O did you just call me a hipster.. OH WE MUST FIGHT CUZN!!!!!!!!!!!! lol.

    no for serious. I AM FAR FROM IT.

    "Sherwood is a notoriously dangerous section of Northwest Jacksonville. Violent crime and drugs have severely infected the neighborhood for decades and sad to say, it may really go to hell because there's no commerce there..... I wouldn't suggest moving there AT ALL

    Read more: http://www.city-data.com/forum/jacksonville/1091827-i-bought-house-sherwood-forest-area-2.html#ixzz1MAgCVQ97

    "

    That's where I grew up. Sorry bravo.

  • whynot_31
    whynot_31

    whynot_31 said:

    Greetings long term readers.

    I have an update for you. I have recently learned the following:

    1. Steve Maynard has remained in the custody of the OMH since his arrest in July.

    2. Throughout this period, he has been held on the basis of Article 730. Using a layman's definition, Mr. Maynard has been in the care of OMH, because he was deemed too mentally ill to assist in his defense or enter a plea bargain.

    3. Steve is now believed to be well enough to assist in his defense or enter a plea bargain.

    4. A hearing on Steve's arborcide/vandalism case will occur on Tuesday May 24, 2011 (updated). I am very pleased that his case will be heard at the newly established Brooklyn Mental Health Court, a project of CCI. http://www.courtinnovation.org/project/brooklyn-mental-health-court

    5. As a result of his case being heard in this court, he will not be referred to the Department of Corrections to serve jail time. Instead, he will be required to attend mental health treatment. The court will take the following things into account:

    a. The insights of the psychiatric center where he has been held.

    b. The documentation provided by the Park Department re: his crimes.

    c. Steve's past compliance with outpatient treatment and medication compliance.

    d. Whether Steve's mother is willing to have him return home.

    .

    .

    .

    .

    After listening to the above, the judge will decide which of the following to order:

    -Live with mom and receive ACT via AOT (defined above), AND/OR

    -Live at an OMH operated community residence, with onsite psychiatry, AND/OR

    -Discharge him to the shelter system, with ACT and AOT follow-up.

    I know someone who will be attending the hearing, and will let you guys know the outcome. Please remember, this hearing could simply result in an adjournment.

    Although the Brooklyn Mental Health Court is only able to serve a small percentage of eligible clients, I am quite pleased that Mr. Maynard's case will be heard by them.

    Persons interested in having an in person conversation regarding this matter are encouraged to attend the CHCA mtg to be held at Launchpad on Tuesday May 17th at 7:30 PM. A short discussion will be on the agenda

  • jack krohn
    jack krohn

    Brooklyn Mental Health court does great work and I've had nothing but positive experiences with their staff. It's too bad that they don't expand to serve more people, given how many psychiatric patients wind up in jail rather than treatment centers. Despite what he's done, I hope that Steve improves and gets the help that he needs.

  • whynot_31
    whynot_31

    Jack,

    Yup, I totally agree.

    On a different note, it should be interesting to see what charges he ends up with.

    In many instances the court creates an agreement that states "if you do not comply with your mental health treatment and supervision, you will be sentenced to x amount of time"

    When I spoke at tonight's CHCA mtg, the crowd seemed pretty receptive to my offer of being a "team leader" should he begin destroying trees again if (or "when") he returns to the community.

    I'd like to think of my efforts in this regard as primary prevention thru assertive community involvement.

  • hiscrownheights
    hiscrownheights

    whynot_31 said:

    Jack,

    Yup, I totally agree.

    On a different note, it should be interesting to see what charges he ends up with.

    In many instances the court creates an agreement that states "if you do not comply with your mental health treatment and supervision, you will be sentenced to x amount of time"

    When I spoke at tonight's CHCA mtg, the crowd seemed pretty receptive to my offer of being a "team leader" should he begin destroying trees again if (or "when") he returns to the community.

    I'd like to think of my efforts in this regard as primary prevention thru assertive community involvement.

    sounds dope whynot :)

  • photogirl
    photogirl

    The city recently planted a number of trees all along Sterling, including on his block. If he is released, I hope his demons are under control for his sake and the sake of our new trees.

  • mha
    mha

    Someone told me they saw C. Steve roaming the neighborhood recently.... Has anyone heard of this, or seen him? I surely have not, but I am no longer possessing of the vantage point that enabled me to do so...

  • whynot_31
    whynot_31

    Photogirl-

    I believe the question is not whether Steve will be released, but to where: A group home? A shelter? His mothers?

    Given the current pressure on OMH hospitals to discharge patients, it is unusual for a non-violent criminal to be hospitalized for as long as he has been.

    MHA-

    It would not surprise me if Steve had been given the ability to occasionally visit his mother, so BOTH your contact and myself could be correct.

    I hope to find out the result of his hearing on 5/24 soon afterward.

    P.S I hope it stops raining before then. How much water do the tree and the city really need?

  • mha
    mha

    6/19/2011

    Steve is Back

    Yep, Steve Maynard, AKA Crazy Steve, AKA The Tree Branch Breaker -- controversy maker -- is back...

    I saw him with mine own two eyes mere moments ago. Exiting Pulp and Bean with a large coffee in hand, I spied an older gentleman, I'd say at least in his early fifties standing in front of the large black and white photograph in Tony's new glass-encased reprise of his supermarket, 'Bob and Betty's'. There, this older brother stood, gesticulating and muttering to himself, and I thought immediately of Steve. 'Oh gawd, not again,' I thought. And for some reason I felt the need to look across the street, and Hot Jesus(!) there he was, Steve in the flesh wearing a grass green t-shirt, blue jean Bermuda shorts, and red Nike hi-tops with white swoops. Steve stood there glaring at the dude transfixed by the black and white photo, then with a sudden lurch moved on walking towards his old perch, the corner of Eastern Parkway and Franklin Avenue.

    Once again, Steve is out. He sports short dreadlocks this time, and a cropped beard, I think. He lost some weight. Guard your trees.

  • armchair_warrior
    armchair_warrior

    I hope tree on my block makes it this season.

  • whynot_31
    whynot_31

    Yes, his release was decided upon when his hearing was finally held on June 7th.

    So far, I have yet to hear of any tree breaking.

  • jack krohn
    jack krohn

    After all of this time, he's likely stable and in a much better place than he was when his psychosis was in full swing. If he's affiliated with mental health court, my guess is that he'll do just fine. Most people with psychotic disorders do well when adherent to treatment. Time will tell, I suppose.

  • whynot_31
    whynot_31

    Jack-

    Yes, he is presently supervised by the Brooklyn Mental Health Court, and will be for quite sometime.

    Yes, many people CAN and DO live stable lives in the community with the support of mental health treatment. I hope Steve will be one of them.

  • whynot_31
    whynot_31

    A well written summary of this 22 page thread has now been composed by a reporter.

    It documents the power of working together, and having a level head.

    http://www.viceland.com/blogs/en/2011/06/20/arborcide-in-brooklyn/

    Enjoy!

  • ntfool
    ntfool

    A good article. Thasnk whynot!

  • jack krohn
    jack krohn

    Excellent article! Thanks for posting. The scenario where someone is taken to a CPEP, evaluated, and released, only to have the process repeat itself, is all too familiar.

  • whynot_31
    whynot_31

    Jack,

    We hope it is republished in Mental Health News, New York Nonprofit Press, the NYAPRS listserv or City Limits.

    ....feel free to email it to a politician or city officials. Our mental health system is such a mess, it isn't clear where one should start fixing it.

  • whynot_31
    whynot_31

    At this point, I've emailed it to everyone who helped us in the process, and those who were asked for help but didn't (or couldn't) help.

  • notsayin
    notsayin

    There's a major branch broken off the semi-mature tree in front of 349 Prospect Place between Washington and Underhill. Looks fresh. Definitely someone hung from the branch and worked hard to break it.

    Ugh.

  • eastbloc
    eastbloc

    Can we just euthanize Steve, for his good and ours?

    He's clearly an intractably tormented soul.

    MOD NOTE: let's just keep death-hopes offline.

  • whynot_31
    whynot_31

    Folks-

    If this branch was Steve's work, many more broken branches will soon appear.

    People will then witness and take photos of him in the act, and we will pursue the options listed on the last page (page 4) of this article:

    http://www.viceland.com/blogs/en/2011/06/20/arborcide-in-brooklyn/

    ...until then, it may be unfair to suspect him of every branch that is broken in Crown Heights.

  • stacey
    stacey

    Just and FYI - in the last week and a half I have seen the Sanitation trucks break at least 3 large branches off the trees with their truck.

  • jack krohn
    jack krohn

    Any update on how this gentleman is doing? I hope that he has received consistent treatment and is in a healthier frame of mind. I haven't seen any broken branches in ages.

  • whynot_31
    whynot_31

    When I last heard thru the grapevine, he was receiving good care and doing well.

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