29 arrests in a year: How can Doña Ana County help those who slip through the cracks?

DOÑA ANA, New Mexico -- Over the course of a single year, a 29-year-old man named Ruben has been arrested 29 times, according to the Doña Ana County Sheriff's Office.

“His mental health problems are not getting better," admitted Sheriff Kim Stewart. "They are declining.”

Last month, ABC-7 reported on Ruben's inability to enter the Crisis Triage Center as the facility was short staffed. The sheriff said he was able to seek treatment eventually, but "he essentially walked in the back door and out the front door."

Ruben's case highlights the challenges of Doña Ana County and Las Cruces leaders in helping autonomous adults who commit crimes as they suffer from mental health problems and instability.

"I was a Ruben," admitted Micah Pearson, who now leads the National Alliance on Mental Illness for southern New Mexico. Throughout his career, he estimates he has provided assisted outpatient treatment for 85 people.

He has submitted a request for proposal to the county that he hopes would help meet the challenges of the system. His idea includes Doña Ana County paying to employ 12 peer and family support navigators whose jobs are to assist people in navigating the behavioral health and criminal justice systems.

He said those support navigators could meet members of the community where they are and recommend programs and treatments on a proactive basis.

“Stop thinking of this as a law enforcement issue," Pearson said. "Stop thinking of this as a crisis issue. Think about this as a healthcare issue and a wellness issue and think about this proactively.”

"It's this revolving door," said Kasandra Gandara, a licensed social worker, mental health advocate & city councilwoman. "At the end of the day, this gentleman is an adult who makes adult decisions. You and I cannot control what he does."

Gandara agreed that the system was broken, but said there are "well-intentioned people" working in it.

"I think the system was never created," Stewart said. "It’s not that it’s broken. It’s never really been fully imagined."