Jonathan Ohlwine’s suicide has raised questions about the treatment of individuals with mental health issues in the criminal justice system. Ohlwine, who suffered from schizophrenia, was arrested after behaving aggressively towards police officers. Critics argue that the lack of a Crisis Intervention Team in the Fort Wayne Police Department has resulted in inadequate training for officers in dealing with mental health crises. Ohlwine’s ex-wife and mental health advocate Lisa Ganaway believe that more could have been done to prevent his death. The Allen County Sheriff’s Department denies any negligence on their part. Julian Teekaram,Tom Powell reported
FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WPTA) – Following the suicide of Jonathan Ohlwine, 21Investigates conducted a public records request to investigate the circumstances surrounding his arrest and subsequent death. The team obtained police body camera footage and court documents that shed new light on the case.
On September 12, Ohlwine was arrested after a Fort Wayne police detective spotted him walking in the middle of oncoming traffic. When the detective tried to intervene, Ohlwine became aggressive and landed a punch. The obtained video shows an officer using a taser on Ohlwine. Ohlwine’s ex-wife, Trisha, who was shown the video, revealed that he had been diagnosed with schizophrenia and had previously burned down their family home in 2019. She believes that more should have been done to address his mental health during the arrest.
It was discovered that the Fort Wayne Police Department no longer has a Crisis Intervention Team, which raised concerns among mental health advocates. Lisa Ganaway, a board member of the local chapter of the National Alliance of Mental Illness, reviewed the body camera footage and criticized the officers’ focus on charging Ohlwine rather than addressing his mental health needs. She believes that the police need better training in handling individuals with mental illness.
Both Ganaway and Trisha Ohlwine believe that a mistake was made by sending Jonathan Ohlwine to the Allen County Jail instead of a behavioral health facility. Allen County Sheriff Troy Hershberger defended his department’s actions, stating that they followed policy and that there needed to be a criminal charge for Ohlwine to be housed in the jail. Ohlwine was charged with battery of a law enforcement officer and was placed in general population. After attempting suicide in the shower, he passed away two days later.
Trisha Ohlwine expressed her belief that the criminal justice system failed her ex-husband and emphasized the need for better mental health care within the system. The investigation also raised questions about the outdated setup of the Allen County Jail and its potential contribution to Ohlwine’s death.
The next report by 21Investigates will delve into the role of the Allen County Jail in this case..
The team at 21Investigates was intrigued by the news of Jonathan Ohlwine’s suicide in Fort Wayne, Indiana. To gain a better understanding of the situation, they decided to delve deeper and filed a public records request to obtain information about Ohlwine’s initial arrest. Through this request, the team was able to acquire police body camera footage and court documents that shed new light on the case.
On September 12, Ohlwine was arrested around noon after a detective from the Fort Wayne police noticed him walking in the middle of oncoming traffic. The detective attempted to remove Ohlwine from harm’s way, but Ohlwine became aggressive, started swinging, and had a vacant stare. He even landed a punch on the detective. The obtained video from 21Investigates shows another officer using a taser on Ohlwine during the incident. When Ohlwine’s ex-wife, Trisha, saw the footage, she revealed that he had been diagnosed with schizophrenia. She mentioned that Ohlwine had previously burned down their family home in 2019, leading to his imprisonment. Trisha has had to keep her distance from him to protect their children.
Trisha expressed her frustration, stating, “It took our home burning down in order for him to get help.” She believes that Ohlwine needed assistance on the day of his arrest, as he mentioned his mental state to the officers, saying, “I’m a schizophrenic.” Trisha feels that the police should have called a Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) to handle the situation appropriately. However, it was discovered that the Fort Wayne Police Department had disbanded their CIT in 2018. Instead, all officers now receive three to five days of mental health training in the academy.
The lack of mental health training for police officers concerned Lisa Ganaway, a board member of the Fort Wayne Chapter of the National Alliance of Mental Illness. Ganaway, whose son was also schizophrenic and died in a North Carolina jail, reviewed the police body camera footage and expressed her concerns. She was disturbed by the officers’ initial focus on the charges against Ohlwine rather than his well-being. Ganaway believes that not everyone is suited to be a CIT officer and suggests that the police use this video as a training tool to handle similar situations better.
Despite attempts to get a response from the Fort Wayne Police Chief, 21Investigates was denied an on-camera interview due to the potential for litigation. Both Ganaway and Trisha believe that Ohlwine should have been sent to a behavioral health facility rather than the Allen County Jail. They argue that simply placing someone with mental health issues in a jail setting is not appropriate and can lead to further harm.
Sheriff Troy Hershberger of Allen County agreed to an interview with 21Investigates. When asked if his department did everything possible to prevent Ohlwine’s suicide, Hershberger stated that they followed their policies. He added that he couldn’t answer whether Ohlwine should have been in jail without knowing the specifics of his personal issues and a criminal charge against him.
Ohlwine was charged with battery of a law enforcement officer and placed in general population. After just over four weeks, he attempted suicide in the shower and passed away two days later. Sheriff Hershberger emphasized that their goal is to ensure the safety and security of all inmates, and they do not want to see any prisoner die in their facility.
When asked if the criminal justice system is failing individuals with mental health problems, Hershberger mentioned that the system is not designed to handle mental health issues. He stated that the jail was originally intended as a temporary holding facility for pre-trial detainees and sentenced misdemeanors, not as a mental health institution.
Trisha believes that the system failed her ex-husband and hopes that sharing her story will bring attention to the need for change in a criminal justice system that neglects mental health. She believes that if Ohlwine had received proper medical treatment, her children would not have to navigate life without their father.
This investigation raised additional questions, including whether the outdated setup of the Allen County Jail played a role in Ohlwine’s death. One county commissioner agrees that it might have contributed, and this aspect will be explored in the next report by 21Investigates.
In conclusion, the team at 21Investigates sought to uncover more information about Jonathan Ohlwine’s suicide and the circumstances surrounding his arrest. Through public records requests, they obtained valuable evidence that shed light on the case. The investigation highlighted the lack of a Crisis Intervention Team in the Fort Wayne Police Department and raised concerns about the training officers receive regarding mental health issues. The story also emphasized the need for proper mental health facilities rather than sending individuals to jail. Trisha Ohlwine and Lisa Ganaway expressed their disappointment with the system’s handling of mental health cases. Sheriff Troy Hershberger defended his department’s actions but acknowledged the limitations of the criminal justice system in addressing mental health. Ultimately, this investigation hopes to bring attention to the importance of prioritizing mental health within the criminal justice system..