Robert "Simon" Gilmore, a homeless man who's often seen sleeping downtown in front of Weaver's Department Store or the Replay Lounge, was arrested early Friday afternoon at the intersection of New Hampshire and Seventh streets.
"He was in the middle of the street," said Lawrence police spokesman Sgt. Dan Ward. "We got a call from someone who couldn't get around him because of the oncoming traffic. The next car couldn't get around him either."
When police arrived at the scene, above, Ward said, Gilmore "actively and passively resisted" the officers. He was later charged with obstruction, disorderly conduct and battery. He was taken to Douglas County Jail, where he remains.
"The last thing we want to do is arrest someone in his situation, but the officers have no choice," Ward said.
Gilmore, 48, is visually impaired. He has been hospitalized several times for mental illness.
Comments
one_more_bob 8 years, 3 months ago
Happy
New
Year,
YDP!
kitkat 8 years, 3 months ago
I think the point here has been lost in some kind of game. Simon does suffer from mental illness and anyone who has been around awrence for any amount of time has spoken to and attempted to aid Simon. The problem is that Simon does not believe a problem exists because he is mentally ill, this compounded with the fact that Simon is of far higher intellect than most poses a serious problem to intervention on his behalf. Simon will not go to anyones house because he believes he will be contaminated; this is why he wears socks on his hands and drapes himself with a white sheet. While these behaviors may seem a bit on the quirkish side he can also recite to you any text upon request and explain mathamatical equations which would blow the mind of the average person. Regardless the county jail is no place for him to be and because of the laws regarding holding of the mentally ill he cannot be held in a psyc ward for very long. We can't force him to take his meds and he chooses not to. But some of us do indeed acknowlege him every time we see him. To me Simon is like anyone eles I run into on the streets, he deserves to live as he choses mentally ill or not.
Godot 8 years, 3 months ago
Hannibal, may you celebrate the New Year with an abundance of fava.
beer_N_cigarettes 8 years, 3 months ago
Marion,
You may, indeed, have sincere motives and genuine concern for this Simon character. However, your message(s) get lost in your constant, frequent altruistic, self indulgent ramblings.
Beyond whipping up anonymous op-eds on a newspaper blog; just how important is the "issue" of Simon to you; just how much of an advocate are you for him?
Do you provide any amount of financial support to him?
Do you devote significant time to meet, walk, talk, counsel, or mentor with him? (other than an occassional token five minutes on the street).
Are you in direct contact with social service agencies to obtain help for this individual?
Finally, have you ever had Simon visit or stay with you at your house? On those cold, winter nights have you brought Simon to your house to spend the night, the week, to live permanently?
Yea, that's what we thought. So, don't get your panties in a bunch when other posters challenge you.
Enough of this dada, it's New Years and I'm getting drunk, then I'm going to go in front of Weavers and puke on the sidewalk, so Simon has something warm to sleep on.
killjoy 8 years, 3 months ago
There once was a man with no brain
he tried to defend the insane.
He double-spaced his type
which made everyone gripe.
So, they flushed his posts down the drain.
Hannibal_Lecter 8 years, 3 months ago
Godot,
I've
been
waiting
for
you.
I'm
looking
forward
to
more
posts
by
Marion.
Thanks,
Hannibal
Godot 8 years, 3 months ago
granted.
one_more_bob 8 years, 3 months ago
He's
real
&
he's
fun
but
he's
not
real
fun
Thanks,
OMB
Godot 8 years, 3 months ago
You guys are dada. Marion is real.
nudist 8 years, 3 months ago
Has
everyone
gone
crazy?
Thanks,
nudist
killjoy 8 years, 3 months ago
Hey, I love spaces too!
I think maybe, I'll type like this from now on.
I hope everyone does.
Imagine how long the board will be?
The voices told me to do this.
one_more_bob 8 years, 3 months ago
I
d
o
n
'
t
k
n
o
w
.
boogeyman 8 years, 3 months ago
Confrontation:
Mari... is hilarious. You really should have seen his posts. I can't believe he would mention personal attack...but, I guess he is the expert on them.
Is
this
a
compulsive
disorder?
thanks
b
Marion Lynn 8 years, 3 months ago
Confrontation:
What is going on here is a series of personal attacks, about the motivation of which I have no clue.
This began on the thread following the first article about Simon:
Thank you for your kind comments.
This is an issue which is very important to me and I will not allow mena spirited and hateful posters to get in the way.
Thanks again.
Marion.
one_more_bob 8 years, 3 months ago
Must...
space...
out...
comments...
Must...
plug...
other...
forum...
......
Purell 8 years, 3 months ago
50 - 70 hours working, that's funny and impossible. 50 - 70- hours on posting board is closer to the truth. Look at your post - even after having it explained to you, you just don't get it. Everyone else was certainly right.
Confrontation 8 years, 3 months ago
Marion-I don't know what these other posters are talking about, since I see your posts as some of the most reasonable on this site. Schizophrenia will never be understood by those people who don't care.
Marion Lynn 8 years, 3 months ago
To Purrell, Nudist ,Sassypants and Corproate Sleaze:
If you don't like my posts.....exercise some personal respnsibility by not reading them.
When I need a grammar coach, I'll let one of you know.
My use of such terms as "crazy", "nuts" and "demeted" are in no way perjorative.
Most folks have no notion of what a completely debilitating conditions schizophrenia is and many still believe that the term describes a multiple personality disorder!
Even Matahari, who is speaking from th heart shows clearly that the poster does not underatnd the condition.
Yes, Simon is a human beign with all the rights accorded.........Simon is also completley mentally disordered, living in a world that none of us will ever know and not capable of taking care of himself.
The frequency of his violent outbursts is increasing as well so he may be subject to harm from others who do not unsetand his condtion or who may be simply defending themselves.
On the days when Simon appears to be lucid he will carry on the most amazing conversations which cause his listeners to forget for a few moments that they are talking to a guy wearing a turban, a blanket and socks on his hands.
As far as advocating for Simon, do you suppose that the photos of him were delivered to the website by celestial conveyor?
That they were taken by internet gremlins with no purpose in mind?
Those photos were part of an article put up on RiverCityTalk.com last summer about Simon in an effort to get him some help.
http://www.rivercitytalk.com/forum/gallery2/main.php?g2_view=core:DownloadItem&g2_itemId=859&g2_serialNumber=2
http://www.rivercitytalk.com/forum/gallery2/main.php?g2_view=core:DownloadItem&g2_itemId=854&g2_serialNumber=2
Nudist, although 54, I hardly consider that "old".
Nor am I "retired" as another poster has suggested; I work 50-70 hours a week and put in another 15 or so with the animals for which I care.
Why don't you try staying about 3 feet off my backside while you TRY to follow me around for a week and we'll see who tires out first.
Robert is the poster child for mental illness in this nation; abandoned by family which is worn out or nhot capable of providing care, ignored by the state and looked upon as an oddity; part of the scenery by the locals.
Robert needs to be institutionalised, at least until he is stabilised and discharged if and only if he has 24/7 care as without such care he will relapse in days.
I am ashamed and saddened for Lawrence that some folks reduce a thread about such a needy and mentally ill person to a conflict of internet personalities and will not play the game.
My earlier comments to the four ad hominem attacks will be my last.
I am advocating for Simon not engaging in repartee with mean spirited and hateful posters.
Thanks.
Marion.
Richard Heckler 8 years, 3 months ago
Well it appears Simon will be warm,safe and fed to bring in the new year.
corporate_sleaze 8 years, 3 months ago
To Purell,
I agree with you completely. Most of the time I regard the posts by -- Marion -- as nonconsequential gibberish at best. I suspect he spends twice as much time rereading and admiring his own posts as he does writing them. He's such a buffoon.
Commenting has been disabled for this item.