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Jan 22, 2011, 02:44 AM
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Member Since: Jan 2011
Posts: 95
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OK costello ...
Just finished reading your post.
Questions:
01. How old is your son?
02. What is his diagnosis?
03. What medication regime is he on?
04. Is he under the care of a psychiatrist?
05. Is he legally disabled or on SSI?
06. Has he done violence to you before?
Just a few things that popped into my head right off the bat here.
OK, so he will spend the night in jail. I don't think that you did anything wrong at all ... he has to be aware that some actions have repercussions, and striking someone in the head with a closed fist constitutes one of those actions.
Secondly, I am sure that it was more than apparent to the law enforcement officials that your son was not being coherent or honest with regard to what unfolded. To mention that you:
a. were struck in the head with his fist, whereby he claimed "that was a cigarette lighter".
b. "wanted to have sex with him" (Uh ... no. Sounds like a delusion to me.)
c. were "chewing on a dirty tampon" (something that no reasonable individual would even consider doing - unless they were REALLY REALLY weird.) 
d. were "fighting over his wife" (of which you said he doesn't / nor ever have / had a wife / been married.)
All of these comments / observations by yourself to the police were taken into consideration and I think that when they compared his behaviour and state of mind, to your behaviour and state of mind, it was obvious to them who was more coherent and reasonable. Hence, him being arrested.
Now I am not sure about the judicial protocols that are tied into a charge of "domestic violence" or "domestic battery", other than I would think that it *may* come down to you deciding if you want to press charges or not.
I think that it would be in your best interest, to have him take several days of breathing room away from you. For him to up and smack you over an issue which occurred only 30 minutes to an hour beforehand (which you resolved by doing the dishes), makes me weary with regard to him possibly doing something even worse that is totally unprovoked.
What it boils down to is that I think you shouldn't be a hostage in your own home.
Depending on his age, I am sure that there are other resources which he can take to remain somewhat stable (i.e. halfway houses / county in-patient facilities / etc.).
Anything to the end result of him being monitored:
Monitored to stay on his meds.
Monitored to compose himself.
Monitored to keep his actions in check.
Monitored to function (if somewhat limitedly) in society, etc.
And from what I can gather, you've been helping him now over the past 2 months or so, but then this has surfaced.
Who is to say that 3 weeks from now, with this event behind you, that some other event will occur and set him off? You and I cannot adequately answer that question.
Hence, I think that if he were to be directed to one of the options I mentioned earlier (mental health in-patient facility / halfway house), I think there would be more room for success and it would provide you with some comfort in that he wouldn't be living off of the street or on someone's couch with the potential for relapsing or whatever.
Make your concerns known to the judge / court representatives. Also, if he is under a doctor's care, I suggest you contact that individual with a possible recommendation as far as how to proceed.
Additionally, tonight if need be, write down (or type up) sort of a quick case history / behaviour history on your son. List when the issues began with him (age, etc.), meds he's been on, medical diagnoses, any hospitalizations or run-ins with the law, etc.
That way, you can argue your point with concrete evidence. I know that it is difficult to do something like this to your own flesh & blood, but you know deep down inside how he once was your "little boy" before all of this came into being. Gotta remember that. You are doing this for the welfare of your child.
OK, gonna scoot here.
Will check back with regard to your reply.
Take care,
-vertebrae- 
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