mugshots you have to love

[HairOfTheDog]

This is 58 year old Kenneth Haskins.



He was just arrested in Tampa, Florida.

Haskins was pissed off because the owner of the apartment building where he lived told him he had to stop jerking off in front of the window and the front door.

So, he did what any right-minded person would do when issued such an unreasonable demand. He set the complex on fire, of course. 28 units had to be evacuated, 4 were destroyed. Very fortunately, no residents or fire-fighters died in the blaze.

Oh, Kenneth is a bit disfigured because he blasted himself in the face with a shotgun several years ago.

Man, I wish we could find a middle ground in terms of mental institutionalization in this country.

It was a travesty back when people who could easily be treated via outpatient regimen or who weren't mentally ill at all were locked away because their families or authorities had some agenda (or just didn't want to suffer "weird" non-conformists).

But, it's a travesty today, IMO, that there aren't enough facilities/beds often for people who know they need help and seek it. And, then there are the Kenneths - wandering around beating off with one hand and starting fires with the other because it's so damned difficult to get anyone involuntarily committed, even when it's clear as day the person requires controlled setting treatment (for him/herself and for the safety of others).

Anyway...Kenneth is charged with first degree arson and is being held in jail without bail. He needs to be convicted and treated, either in jail or a psych facility - doesn't matter which, to me.

I hope authorities don't release him.