A Cycle of Crisis
Damian Hisle faces charges in a hate crime investigation after allegedly harassing a woman near the University of Kentucky earlier this month. The 52-year-old remains in the custody of the legal system, a recurring location for him over the last 30 years. Court records show his history involves dozens of charges ranging from assault to terroristic threats. Each time, the outcome appears to follow a familiar pattern of brief hospitalizations followed by a return to the streets.
His stepparents, George Garber and Sharon Hackworth, describe a man caught in a permanent loop of instability. Garber, 72, maintains detailed records of these incidents in a private diary kept at his home in Lexington. They argue that Hisle suffers from severe paranoid schizophrenia that the current support system cannot manage long-term. According to the family, the treatment he receives in state facilities is insufficient because it ends as soon as he appears stable in a controlled environment.
The Breakdown of Support
Hisle frequently cycles through homeless shelters, jails, and psychiatric units. His stay at these locations is often cut short by behavior tied to his untreated condition. Staff at facilities like the Hope Center in Lexington confirm that individuals with severe mental illnesses often lack specialized housing options. Chris Peck, an advancement officer at the Hope Center, notes that the city faces a notable gap in programming for this population. Many shelters maintain rules regarding violence or drug use that lead to immediate bans, pushing vulnerable individuals back into public spaces.
Police intervention in these cases varies based on officer familiarity with the individual. Garber notes that some local officers recognize Hisle and prioritize medical transport over arrest. However, this is not a universal experience. When encounters occur with agencies unfamiliar with his history, the response usually shifts toward criminal charges. While agencies like the Lexington Police Department and University of Kentucky Police maintain crisis intervention training, the decision to charge an individual remains a case-by-case determination based on safety and reported crimes.
Systemic Gaps and Future Needs
Research indicates that recidivism rates for individuals with co-occurring mental health disorders and substance use issues are significantly higher than the general population. The move toward decarceration in the United States has shifted more responsibility onto local mental health providers. Studies from groups like the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law suggest that these systems require more funding and resources to function as intended. Without steady, long-term residential options, the cycle of arrest and release remains the default path.
Garber advocates for a return to longer-term, non-hospital residential care for individuals who cannot manage independent living. He believes that the current model of short-term stabilization fails both the patient and the public. As the legal case regarding the recent incident at the University of Kentucky proceeds, the underlying question of how to handle chronic, severe mental health cases in an urban environment remains unresolved. For families like the Garbers, the current system is not providing the care necessary to prevent future tragedies.