Шериф округа Глинн оправдал действия после исчезновения ветерана с деменцией

Glynn County Sheriff's Office issues statement after inmate with dementia released, goes missing Above video: Your Wednesday headlines The Glynn County Sheriff’s Office is defending how it handled the release of a veteran with dementia after a social media post raised questions about why he left the county detention center without a family member or caregiver. In a media release issued Wednesday, the agency said employees tried repeatedly to contact the man’s family, reached out to community groups and veterans organizations, and ultimately arranged a motel room and meals at a deputy’s expense. The man, identified as 67-year-old Eugene Thompson, was reunited with his wife Wednesday after leaving the motel on foot, according to the sheriff’s office. The agency issued its response after an anonymous member of a Facebook group posted about the release of a “70-year-old male veteran with dementia.” Sheriff’s office details efforts to help Glynn County police arrested Thompson on Aug. 2 on a failure-to-appear warrant. A judge ordered his release from the Glynn County Detention Center on Tuesday, the sheriff’s office said. After his release, Thompson walked around the building before entering the sheriff’s office lobby. He appeared confused and did not know where to go, according to the agency. Col. Morales, the sheriff’s office chief of staff, spoke with Thompson and began trying to contact his family. Morales reached Thompson’s son in Jacksonville, Florida, but the son declined to help his father, the agency said. Employees also repeatedly called a number provided for Thompson’s wife. The calls went unanswered, and her voicemail could not accept messages. The sheriff’s office said it did not have a home address for Thompson. Morales then contacted community organizations, the Department of Veterans Affairs and several area churches. Some were closed, while others were unable to assist, the agency said. With no family member or organization available to help, a sheriff’s deputy paid for Thompson’s motel room and meals. Thompson was asked to remain at the motel while officials continued trying to determine where he lived and how to get him home safely. Thompson later left the motel on foot. He was reunited with his wife Wednesday after a coordinated effort to locate him, the sheriff’s office said. Agency points to broader mental health crisis In defending its response, the sheriff’s office said detention center employees regularly encounter people with dementia and other mental health conditions who have little or no family support. The agency also stressed that judges — not detention center employees — determine when inmates are released or transferred. “Inmates are held and released by court order,” the sheriff’s office said. The agency said people are often released without anyone waiting to pick them up. In other cases, they remain in jail because no one is willing or able to pay their bond. The sheriff’s office described the Glynn County Detention Center as a mental health facility “by default,” saying a shortage of community resources has left jails to serve as a catch-all for people in need. Officials encouraged residents concerned about the issue to contact state lawmakers about funding and to support local organizations that provide mental health and social services. The agency said this was not the first time sheriff’s office or detention center employees had personally provided someone with lodging and meals. “While these acts of kindness usually go unnoticed, the compassion they show is truly remarkable,” the statement read.