Decatur Police Seeking Man Arrested For Arson, Residents Be Aware of “Odd Damages”
Decatur Metro | August 11, 2014 | 10:30 am
From the Decatur Police Department…
Decatur Police are currently looking for Calvin Simms for criminal trespass regarding damage to property in the 800 block of 3rd Avenue during the overnight hours. Simms is a 46-year-old black male, approximately 6’2, 225 pounds, brown eyes, bald and last seen on 7-23-14 in the area of Oakview Road and 1st Avenue wearing a leopard print sweater. Simms was previously arrested in 2006 for burglary and arson cases in the same area. If you see Simms, do not confront him, call police immediately and provide the location and direction of travel and a detailed clothing description.
In addition, if you experience any incidents at your property to include odd damages such as writing in marker on your house or property, outdoor furniture being rearranged, slashed tires, cut cables or find evidence of burnt paper, call police immediately. If you hear or see someone on your property, call police immediately.
Why are there no comments? This seems interesting.
“Odd Damages”… Gee what more can u say… Very interesting …?
That looks like a portrait. I find that quite interesting.
I can’t wait to see him in the leopard print.. Or better yet an orange jumpsuit!
Calvin has mental health issues and there does not seem to be a place for him in our society. He’s been in and out of jail for years and has been a menace to the 2nd Ave area for years. He was a homeless resident on 2nd Ave for a long time, but that ‘home’ has been torn down. Just a sad story all the way around. And yes, he really does do very weird things.
Arson is a crime for which no sympathy for the perpetrator should be extended. Attempted murder should be the charge any time an inhabited building is intentionally set ablaze. Let’s hope they get this guy off our streets as soon as possible.
I don’t think Isa was expressing sympathy but a realistic statement of the problem. Jails/prisons will only hold him for so long because they are already overflowing. We don’t have mental health facilities anymore to hold the dangerously ill. Not to mention treatment. So someone like this will remain a menace until they hurt someone else or themselves so badly that the story is over.
Um… ok. But it turns out that locking up people with severe mental illness with little access to treatment isn’t working out for anyone. Ask the prisoners, ask the guards, etc. I guess I have sympathy for them but you could easily argue for a better fix out of pure self interest too.
We need to figure out something between “lock em up” and “you’re free to go” for a lot of these people.
“We need to figure out something between “lock em up” and “you’re free to go” for a lot of these people.”
Completely agree. But what do you suggest we do until we find a better solution? It seems to me that we have a greater duty to the public at large, and we shouldn’t let a dangerous individual roam the streets where he can continue to inflict harm.
It sounds like he WILL be locked up–that’s why the police are looking for him. But it’s just a matter of time before he is out again and evidently he considers the 2nd Ave. area to be his home. The problem is that, to my knowledge, no one is working on the “until we find a better solution” part. So Calvin Simms and others like him will continue to be among us. I doubt that they are any happier than we are. It’s a crummy situation.
I like to think I can extend sympathy or pity to whomever I care to extend it. Even to blowhard bloggers, but that’s harder.
+1
TESTIFY, Sister Parker!
This is a tragic situation – it sounds like this guy really does need professional help, but the current system can’t (or more accurately won’t) connect him to it until he actually does harm someone (and even then he’s more likely to just be locked away to rot in prison).