Glenn Smallwood Jr., a US army veteran with a history of schizoaffective disorder, faced a tragic end shortly after expressing hope for the future. Just 48 hours after his arrest for public intoxication, he was found dead in a holding cell, having been handled cruelly by law enforcement. This incident raises critical concerns about the safety of individuals with mental health conditions during police interactions, as data indicates a disproportionate risk of fatal outcomes in such encounters, particularly in Texas. Smallwood's case exemplifies a systemic issue requiring urgent attention and reform.
His death, and his shocking mistreatment at the hands of law enforcement, underscore how people with mental illness are at risk when they encounter the police in the US.
Roughly 48 hours later, on 16 June 2023, Glenn Smallwood was arrested for public intoxication... a team of officers strapped Smallwood to a chair.
The Washington Post's Fatal Force database shows that one in five people killed by police may have been experiencing a mental health crisis.
In Dallas-Fort Worth, a 2021 investigation revealed that one in three people killed by police from 2014 to 2021 were experiencing a mental health crisis.
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