Sheriff Bill Massee will tell anyone willing to listen that “county jails are the new mental hospitals.”
Another case study occurred last week, as deputies arrested a 17-year-old and charged him with one count of felony terroristic threats and acts. Gabriel Austin Wymer was booked at the county jail and denied bond.
The case began as a missing person BOLO (be on the lookout) after Wymer left home, and his family became concerned. Wymer “was diagnosed with severe autism and bipolar disorder” and “recently had been in an inpatient psychological rehabilitation center.”
First responders converged on Old Colony Farm Road, where Wymer eventually was located and returned home. Later, however, deputies were called back to the property after family members became concerned. Wymer “stated that he needed help and needed to leave.” Wymer also “stated that if he did not leave, he would kill everyone there or kill himself.” Wymer “further stated that he wanted to kill his stepmother.”
Wymer was transported by ambulance to Atrium Navicent Health Baldwin, where a psychiatric evaluation was performed. However, “Atrium Health Navicent Baldwin stated that after further evaluation, Gabriel Wymer’s mental condition was not determined to be the cause of his behavior or the threats he made against (his stepmother) and other individuals.”
From there, Wymer was handcuffed and taken to jail.
IN BALDWIN COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE NEWS:
• A man told on himself after stealing a Hummer. A deputy initially responded to the Super Inn “in reference to a man reporting himself for the theft of a vehicle.” The deputy then interviewed Willie Ray Hodnett, 66, who “stated he took his mother’s 2005 Hummer H2” and ran it off the road. “Willie stated he did not have permission to take the vehicle,” according to the incident report. Hodnett also admitted to stealing a wallet and cell phone. Hodnett was charged with felony theft by taking, misdemeanor theft by taking and failure to appear.
• Break-ins, thefts and/or entering autos were reported in the 120 block of Garrett Way, the 110 block of Swint Avenue, the 200 block of Ivey Drive SW, the 550 block of Gordon Highway.
IN OTHER MILLEDGEVILLE POLICE DEPARTMENT NEWS:
• A man was arrested outside of Ned Kelly’s/Capitol City early Sunday morning after reportedly grabbing a woman’s butt, punching her fiance and then trying to fight a bouncer on the way out. Dylan Waters, listed with a Washington County address, was charged with one count of battery.