By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter
CHEHALIS – Police converged on a Chehalis home yesterday afternoon after a caller to Sen. Patty Murray’s office in Washington D.C. reportedly threatened suicide and said it was “going to make the national news.”
The man, in his early 30s, had said he was not getting the help he needed from the veterans administration for his disability, according to the Chehalis Police Department.
A half dozen Chehalis officers as well as at least one sheriff’s deputy responded to the area of Northwest Ohio Avenue following the approximately 4 p.m. call from Washington D.C. according to police.
“We got information there were guns in the house,” police Sgt. Gwen Carrell said.
Carrell said an acquaintance of the man’s spoke with him on the phone, asked him to come outside and he did so peacefully within about 20 minutes.
Police didn’t find explosives or anything that indicated the man had the means to cause any kind of large-scale or nationally newsworthy incident, according to Carrell.
Detective Sgt. Gary Wilson met him at the door and the man was taken voluntarily to the hospital for a mental health evaluation, according to Carrell.
A spokesperson for the senator’s office said the details of the veteran’s complaint were confidential, but it did trigger a call to the U.S. Capitol Police in D.C.
Sen. Murray’s office will be following up on his concerns, spokesperson Matt McAlvanah said.
Murray is the former chair of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee and remains a senior member, so they do help veterans who have issues with the Department of Veterans Affairs, McAlvanah said.
Tags: By Sharyn L. Decker, news reporter
A friend of mine recently had dealings with the VA clinic in Chehalis and Seattle. They were respectful and prompt in returning calls and getting him seen. I have nothing but respect for the job that they do for OUR veterans. As citizens I think we need to back up the Veterans and provide advocacy for them as needed. It is a sad situation. I hope he gets the help that he needs.
The Government Local or otherwise have a habit of Failing Veterans, and “We the People” a lot. We will see if Patty Murry does follow through with this mans proper needs, and maybe all others with must needs. We will see.
Nor did I say it was. It was the Army’s flagship medical center before being shut down in 2011, four years after the scandal broke.
Walter Reed is not a VA Hospital. .
This was an honest attempt to get help with his claims that was taken as a threat. I sincerely hope that the Senator is able to help with getting things going for him, he needs the help he is asking for, not as a handout, but as part of our responsibility to him for his time served over seas protecting us. Kicking in his front door is pretty much the opposite of what he needs.
I’m not the biggest Patty Murray fan, but one thing I’ve always thought she deserves credit for are her efforts on behalf of veterans. People who’ve served (especially in combat) have earned whatever benefits they receive, and she’s been front and center in that regard. Kudos to her.
Unfortunately, the government does fail veterans too often. That “60 Minutes” segment on Walter Reed Hospital a few years back could be taken as an example of how government-controlled health care can go wrong. Obamacare, of course, will be different.