Mentally ill offender in treatment

Judge ordered man to hospital under Mental Health Act in bid to get him help

A mentally ill offender sent to hospital by a Victoria provincial court judge has been committed under the Mental Health Act.

Judge Ernie Quantz received a letter Friday from the forensic psychiatric clinic informing him that Tyrone Goertzen is being treated in the psychiatric intensive care unit at Royal Jubilee Hospital.

Goertzen, whose schizophrenia has been untreated, was repeatedly coming in contact with the criminal justice system.

Quantz believed Goertzen’s mental illness was driving his criminal behaviour and was concerned Goertzen would continue to reoffend and put himself, the police and the public at risk.

On Monday, Quantz ordered Goertzen to be released into the custody of two police officers and taken directly to the hospital for involuntary admission under the Mental Health Act. Goertzen was examined and detained for 48 hours. During that time, a second doctor certified his need for treatment.

Quantz has ordered another update to the psychiatric assessment in a month to determine what Goertzen’s long-term treatment plan will be.

In the meantime, his criminal matters have been adjourned. Goertzen had pleaded guilty to assaulting a police officer and breaching his probation order by violating a no-contact order with his former girlfriend in January.

Quantz deferred sentencing until he knows what steps will be taken by the hospital.

Goertzen, 29, had no contact with the criminal justice system until he was 20 years old. But since 2013, he has assaulted his former girlfriend and continually breached court orders to stay away from her. When she called police, Goertzen resisted arrest and assaulted the officers.

Goertzen was certified under the Mental Health Act in 2015. His case went to the B.C. Review Panel, which concluded he had a long standing history of schizophrenia. Goertzen he did not agree with the diagnosis and did not want to take medication. The panel continued his mental-health certification, but it was allowed to lapse.

In a court-ordered forensic report, psychiatrist Dr. Robert Miller said Goertzen has chronic and persistent mental illness, a history of assaultive behaviour, a history of mental disorder, a history of breaching court orders and little insight into his illness.

Miller recommended Goertzen be stabilized and started on medication, then followed in the community under provisions of the Mental Health Act.