Marion County Resident Circuit Court Judge Mark Stedelin ordered 79-year-old George Jansen of North High Street in Central City detained under the cashless bond law for a mental evaluation following a series of incidents defused by Central City Police on Tuesday.
Central City Police Chief Jamie Ramsey testified at the Wednesday hearing to detain Jansen and told the judge he feared not getting Jansen help would end badly.
Jansen was charged with violation of a stalking no contact order after going on a protected property across the street claiming to have a gun and wanting the resident to come out or let him in. When Central City Police arrived, Jansen reportedly had gone back across the street to a shed on his property where he was staying since his house was heavily damaged by fire. Police say Jansen reached down like he had a gun and ordered the police to get back or he would blow the head off the officer if he came any closer. The officer drew his gun, but backed off and called for additional Central City officer and Centralia Police to the scene. It turned out Jansen just had wadded up rags. However, he then allegedly put a butcher type knife into his mouth against the back of his throat. When Jansen put his head down, police were able to move up and grab the knife away and wrestle Jansen to the ground. He was taken to Salem Township Hospital for treatment before being transported to the Marion County Jail where he was held until his first court appearance Wednesday afternoon.
Ramsey told the judge they had tried to have Jansen involuntarily admitted earlier in the week at SSM Health St. Mary’s Hospital, but he was later released.
After observing that he believes Jansen needed treatment on an inpatient basis and in need of immediate hospitalization to keep him from harming others, Judge Stedelin ordered the Marion County Sheriff’s Department to transport Jansen back to St. Mary’s for another evaluation. If treatment was not provided, Jansen was ordered to only be released back to the custody of the sheriff’s department.
