Chesterton Police have documented another incident involving an autistic resident of the 1000 block of South 18th Street, this one, on Tuesday, coming to blows.

According to police, at 11:16 a.m. officers were dispatched to a residence in the 900 block of Westchester Ave. in response to a report of a mentally challenged man’s fighting with two other men on the front porch of the home. On their arrival, police said, the officers’ observed a 24-year-old man whom they recognized from prior incidents being held down on the porch by the homeowner. That man has been diagnosed with autism, schizophrenia, and obsessive-compulsive disorder, police said.

The homeowner advised police that the man had walked up to his porch, then run back in the direction of his residence. But the man returned a few minutes later, at which time the homeowner pointed to the man’s home and told him to “Go home.” Then the man charged at him, the homeowner advised. The homeowner managed to hit the man a few times until his step-son arrived and helped to subdue the man in a chair, he advised.

One of the man’s 24-hour caregivers—employed by Globe Star—for her part advised that the man had wandered off. She also advised that she understands why the homeowner restrained the man but added that he and his step-son kept punching the man after he had been restrained.

The stepson, however, advised that while restrained the man kneed him a couple of times in the groin and kicked his step-father.

The homeowner asked police to pursue charges against the man of battery and trespassing but were informed that the man is not competent to be so charged. A Porter County Deputy Prosecuting Attorney subsequently confirmed that legal opinion but did ask the CPD to forward a copy of the report so that she can coordinate with another social service to ensure that the man is receiving all needed care and supervision.

Adult Protective Services also asked the CPD to forward a copy of the report.

The homeowner “and several other neighbors are considering combining their resources and consulting with an attorney to see if there is anything they can do to get the full enjoyment of their property back,” police said. “They all said they have had to alter their normal routines to account for the possibility that (the man) will get away and try to attack someone else.”

Posted 10/28/2009