4 December 1, 2010 + Over the Edge Three-Year-Old Kidnapped in Vancouver The kidnapping of a 3-year-old raises questions about mental health treatment HANNA PETERSEN NEWS EDITOR On November 24th a three-year-old boy was kidnapped and is frequented by families in the area. Basic questions the state of mental health prevention and care in Vancouver by deranged man in Vancouver’s downtown east side. The concerning why this man was able to wander into the centre and throughout the province,” said the Mayor. “This man boy and his mother were visiting a local community/fitness and abduct the child has critics and politicians questioning had a history of mental health issues and involvement in centre when the man grabbed the toddler and ran into the state of mental healthcare and treatment in the violent incidents, which raises serious questions as to why the bathroom of the facility. The man then barricaded the province. Vancouver Mayor, Gregor Robertson, released a he was in the community centre...The city will be asking bathroom door and an almost eight hour standoff between the man and Vancouver police ensued. He was eventually identified as 24-year-old Kyle Hepworth Jackson. Police attempted to negotiate with Jackson; however, when Jackson let on that he had cut the boy’s face Vancouver Police charged the door and arrested Jackson. The young boy suffered a long cut to his cheek but was apparently a “trooper” throughout the ordeal as he did not once cry or complain. Once rescued, the boy was whisked to an awaiting ambulance where he was reunited with his parents. Jackson had previously been arrested for assault in December and was serving a one-year probation sentence at the time of the attack. He has been charged with taking a hostage, aggravated assault, unlawful confinement, assault with a weapon, and possession of a dangerous weapon. Jackson the Provincial authorities for answers on why this man was out on the street. There are several outstanding questions that we need answered, both to understand how this happened and how to prevent it from happening again.” The incident does highlight severe gaps in the mental health system as many people with mental illness’ do not receive the appropriate care or have access to mental healthcare facilities. After the dramatic incident, Vancouver Police Chief, Jim Chu, made a public call for more mental health services to be made available in the city as police are continually encountering incidents involving people who are mentally ill. “We are the wrong tool in the tool box to deal with the mentally ill,” said Chu. Two years ago police issued a report which outlined that the lack of appropriate mental health care services were transitioning mental has also been ordered to undergo a psychiatric ONLINE SOURCE health care work to the Vancouver Police Department assessment. Kyle Hepworth Jackson is led away by police by default. While it is not uncommon for incidents of violence to occur in Vancouver’s downtown east side, media took a statement regarding this issue. special interest in this story. The centre where the incident occurred has been referred to a “middle class” environment “The incident last night raises some tough questions about A rewarding Education and Career in OVE R TH F F DG F BA KES Massage Therapy The OkanaganValley College PROVIDING HEALTH PROFESSIONAL OPPORTUNITIES OVCMT www Cony Jackson’s first court date is set for December 10th. The identity of the boy cannot be released due to a court ordered publication ban. Not only can we write, we can also make a pretty mean cupcake ee nels i ats ? a ¢ | PK ¥: d 7 fa if Caps 9 tars Pe r | Pe \aHO\ A ; Aken "He sed ase —_ leon gyal 5 cimartontuns Shor 4flarGe E ae oe Banana boat Tl y oiteg InNoth America 4 | ° Ki Cc 2 Fo\ Modern and spacious classrooms ep CONG Classes start in Jan 2011 gi ease workshops: See the Website 16 years training experience VERNON, BC Call for a FREE catalogue he CATCHER www.ovemt.com Apply now to secure your Fall Classes Dream about being the next Woodward and Burnstein? Well, all you have to do is send you articles to over-the- edge@unbc.ca and you could be that much closer to infamy. SHELBY PETERSEN In an effort to raise money to attend a journalism conference in January, OTE staff Hanna Petersen and Kali Flick helped to organize a bakesale on November 24. Together, we raised almost $80 off all our delicious baked goods! Om nom nom!