Cody Balmer attempted to murder Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro by throwing Molotov cocktails into his home, revealing flaws in the state's criminal justice and mental-health systems. Balmer, who had a troubling history of violence and mental illness, was out on bail after previous violent incidents. Despite his mother's desperate calls for help and warnings to police, authorities could not act because Balmer did not meet the high thresholds for involuntary commitment. This case underscores the urgent need for reform in how mental health crises are managed in Pennsylvania and beyond.
Cody Balmer, the arsonist arrested for throwing two lit Molotov cocktails into the Shapiros' living room while the family slept, had a history of violence and serious mental illness that should have seen him either in jail or getting long-term, supervised treatment.
Christie knew her son was a danger and begged for help. Yet the authorities did zilch because Balmer 'hadn't made threats to himself or others' and thus 'did not meet the threshold for an involuntary mental health evaluation'.
When authorities were warned that he was a ticking timebomb, wacko involuntary-commitment standards tied their hands.
Yes: The 'threshold' is so high that even a violent madman whose own family is pleading for intervention doesn't even get evaluated, let alone committed.
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