PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — Port St. Lucie police said that an 18-year-old murder suspect was previously detained under Florida's Baker Act.
At a Thursday morning news conference, Port St. Lucie acting police chief Leo Niemczyk said the suspect, Omarion Ivory had a history of mental illness.
Police told WPTV that the teen was evaluated under the Baker Act twice as a minor at the request of law enforcement.
Under the Baker Act, police or relatives can go to court and get a judge to confine a person for up to three days for a mental health evaluation.
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The individual is then usually released often to receive treatment or counseling. But in some cases, they could be confined at a mental health facility for up to six months.
WPTV investigative reporter Dave Bohman spoke to Attorney Joe Gufford, who specializes in the Baker Act. Gufford said not enough people are confined after the initial exam.
"Sometimes people slip through the cracks (who) should be the subject of involuntary treatment," Gufford said. "It's difficult on families. It's difficult on the person."
One of the biggest challenges for mental health professionals is handling the volume of people being placed under the Baker Act.
Last year, Florida's Department of Children and Families reported 177,000 people were detained and examined under the Baker Act, about 20% were juveniles.
