Richmond District roof lady. Hope she gets the help she needs

SAN FRANCISCO – OUTER RICHMOND DISTRICT

Lee Heidhues 2.26.024

Cycling home up Anza Street from my daily walk in Sutro Park I came upon a posse of San Francisco cops, health department and emergency medical staff.

For at least a year a woman has stood on the balcony of a four story building shouting out at all hours of the day and night. I live blocks away and the sound of her voice can easily be heard. Talking with the neighbors we learned the woman is a former member of the military. She suffers from PTSD.

The situation has exasperated the neighbors who, while generally empathetic, are frustrated. The authorities have responded to the building. But nothing was done legally to stop the constant disruption.

Disruption which was not good for the peace of the neighborhood. Nor for the health and personal well being of the woman herself.

Until today.

What I learned in talking to a neighbor who lives across the street is that the cops had no probable cause to enter the premises. So, the authorities waited for the bi-weekly ‘street sweeper’ day.

When the woman came out to move her car she was met by the authorities. Placed in an ambulance under a California Health and Safety Code Section 5150 Hold.

(a) When a person, as a result of a mental health disorder, is a danger to others, or to themselves, or gravely disabled, a peace officer, professional person in charge of a facility designated by the county for evaluation and treatment, member of the attending staff, as defined by regulation, of a facility designated by the county for evaluation and treatment, designated members of a mobile crisis team, or professional person designated by the county may, upon probable cause, take, or cause to be taken, the person into custody for a period of up to 72 hours for assessment, evaluation, and crisis intervention, or placement for evaluation and treatment in a facility designated by the county for evaluation and treatment and approved by the State Department of Health Care Services. The 72-hour period begins at the time when the person is first detained. 

I stood by and watched after the woman was placed under custodial care. I could hear her screaming from inside the ambulance.

Hopefully she will receive the care and attention she obviously needs.