Chief’s Counsel: Armstrong v. Village of Pinehurst: Training and Policy Implications for Police

Armstrong v. Village of Pinehurst demonstrates the intense scrutiny that many courts take when considering claims of unreasonable force against persons with mental illness. Ronald Armstrong had been diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia and bipolar mental illness. After he stopped taking his medication, his sister persuaded him to self-admit to a hospital; however, Armstrong left the emergency department prior to completing the admission process.