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Woman brutalized on video at SLO County Mental Health

September 29, 2011

Valerie Lane following the assault at the hospital

EDITOR’S NOTE: See the video of the assault in the text and William Shirreffs’ criminal past at the bottom of this story.

By KAREN VELIE

If Valerie Lane had been a stray dog she would have received better protection from San Luis Obispo County. As it is, she is still suffering from a brutal attack that occurred more than two years ago at a San Luis Obispo County Mental Health facility, Lane’s attorney James McKiernan, said.

At San Luis Obispo County Animal Services, animals arriving from different homes are housed separately to determine if they have a “propensity for violence.” Even so, most animals are caged separately for the duration of their stay, Dr. Eric Anderson, animal services’ manager, said.

Lane was put in a chain link enclosure with a man who had a history of violence and who had been brought in by law enforcement officers.

There, she was attacked in an assault captured on a video camera. She suffered a gash to her head that required staples, an injured finger that still does not bend, bruised lungs, and a battered and cut face with eyes swollen shut, Lane said. Today, she is losing vision because of damage to the retina in her right eye. It is still primarily blood red because of a hematoma, a collection of blood outside of the blood vessels.

“I don’t want this to happen to anybody else,” Lane said weeping as she talked about the attack.  “You go in to try to protect yourself and this happens.  There is something wrong.”

Warning: This video depicts a disturbing violent assault. We are showing you the entire video but the assault does not start until about two and a half minutes into the recording.

Lane, 52, who suffers from severe migraines and depression, checked herself into the county facility. She had been experiencing a severe migraine and depression and called her therapist. Lane’s therapist told her to check herself into the mental health facility to protect herself.

On Sept. 4, 2009, Lane was spending her second day at mental health when she asked if she could smoke a cigarette. A staff member took her outside to a metal enclosure that consists of chain link walls and ceiling. The staff member lit Lane’s cigarette and left.

William Shirreffs’ bloody handcuffed hand

Lane sat on a bench weeping because of a severe migraine. A facility staffer brought in William Shirreffs, lit his cigarette and left.

Unlike Lane, Shirreffs, 59, had been involuntarily placed into SLO County Mental Health by law enforcement officers and was known at the time to have an extensive history of criminal convictions for violence, drugs, molestation of children, indecent exposure and theft, according to his criminal case information from Kern County Superior Court.

After a few minutes of silence while both smoked, Shirreffs put out his cigarette and asked Lane, “What is wrong?” Lane said.

Lane did not answer and Shirreffs began to hit her and after about a half minute, he stopped and stepped away.

A few minutes later, staff found Lane with blood running down her face. Her white T-shirt was splotched with the blood.

Emergency personnel transported her to French Hospital Medical Center where she was treated for her injuries before being released back to the mental health facility. Photos taken after the attack show Shirreffs’ bloody knuckles.

McKiernan filed a lawsuit against the county in which he asks for damages because of Lane’s ongoing physical and mental impairments. In his Sept. 11 filing, McKiernan lists a number of state laws that require seclusion for dangerous patients, minimal staff to patient ratios as well as health and safety codes that mandate that the facility develop and follow a safety plan designed to protect patients.

“It seems to me that the mental health intervention program itself needs intervention,” McKiernan said. “I am just proud she has the courage to take on the unmotivated, non-listening establishment to make it better for others during their worst moments of crisis.”

Attorney Greg Coates, on behalf of the county, replied to the lawsuit, arguing that the county is not liable for damages because liability only exists if minimal standards for personnel, equipment and facilities are not met.

County mental health officials refused to comment, citing law that makes it a crime to discuss a mental patient’s case.

“Even with the successful conclusion of this case she will be left with lifelong emotional and visual scars from the inexplicable and societal unacceptable incident,” McKiernan said. “Every citizen of the community should be outraged, embarrassed and scared for their loved ones.”

 

William Shirreffs’ criminal past

William Shirreffs shortly after his arrest for assault

William Shirreffs, 59, has an extensive history of criminal convictions for violence, drugs, molestation of children, indecent exposure and theft, according to his criminal case information from Kern County Superior Court.

In 2008, Shirreffs was sentenced to 100 days in jail for assault with a deadly weapon and battery with serious bodily harm. In the spring of 2009, the court sentenced Shirreffs to another 100 days, this time for battery of a police officer.

After an early release for good behavior in late 2009, Shirreffs again found himself back in court after another arrest for battery with serious bodily injury.

June 13, 2008 – assault with a deadly weapon and battery with serious bodily harm

January 7, 2009 – trespassing and refusing to leave property

April 14, 2009 – battery on a person

April 17, 2009 – battery against a police officer

June 30, 2009 – petty theft and possession of marijuana

October 19, 2009 – battery with serious bodily harm

May 15, 2010 – child molestation and indecent exposure

June 10, 2010 – possession of a controlled substance


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“Unlike Lane, Shirreffs, 59, had been involuntarily placed into SLO County Mental Health by law enforcement officers and was known at the time to have an extensive history of criminal convictions for violence, drugs, molestation of children, indecent exposure and theft, according to his criminal case information from Kern County Superior Court.”


Jesus Christ and only in the happiest city in America, I would like five minutes of Shirreffs time, only one minute would be too short for pay back, this guy should be shot resiting arrest. His ugliness turns my stomach.


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where is this guy NOW? Does anyone know


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This is a terrible incident which I imagine has/or will lead to some changes in procedures at this facility.


First, one would think 5150’s are segregated out from the population, and if not, are kept under some line of sight restriction (though in this scenario the assault still looks like it would have occurred). If this lady was considered a Danger To Self, why was she not under observation?


Secondly, this facility may want to reconsider how that door opens in the smoking area. If he had moved her in front of the door, or if there were more persons in the room, staff would not have been able to intervene.


In addition, it appears from the video they were engaged in a conversation, not smoking quietly in the room till she put our her cigarette. That does not justify the assault, but may influence a jury in a court.


Finally, for those who wonder what its like for staff in ASH or CMC here is a small snap shot.


Imagine being around people like Shirreff, and worse, on a daily basis.


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I hope that this leads to some MAJOR changes at this facility. This video made me sick to my stomach. I can’t believe that if they thought Ms.Lane was a danger to herself that she wasn’t under observation.

And who in their right mind puts a 5150 in with someone else. I can’t imagine the jury being influenced in any way in not giving Shirreffs a guilty verdict for assault. This is a habitual criminal with more than

three strikes against him. Why isn’t he locked up for life. I am surprised, however, at how slow the malestaff was in getting Ms. Lane medical attention. I understand about universal precautions so they needed to get gloves, but the workers seemed so lacksadaisy about the assault. You can see Ms. Lane crying and she appears distraught over the incident. I know how difficult it can be working with the mentally ill, but how about showing a little compassion to a victim.


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RE: “5150”


Let’s be correct about using this term: Both parties here were likely 5150 (or 5250, 5260, etc.). Welfare and Institutions Code 5150 provides for a 72 hour hold for persons deemed to be a threat to themself or others. If an individual voluntarily checks in announcing they feel suicidal the “voluntary” aspect ends right there and it becomes an involuntary hold.


The issue is combining a known violent person with other patients, not combining 5150 with non-5150.


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Phree in AG, I hate to burst your bubble, but episodes such as this have been going on for years at SLO Mental Health. They (SLO MENTAL HEALTH) have killed people before by turning them lose & NOT treating them.


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As with so many other articles the public would never know about this if CNN hadn’t reported it. Good work Karen


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That is the epitome of negligence and it isn’t the first time with this County Mental Health Hospital. It wasn’t that long ago that we read how they illegally restrained a patient for over 12 hours until he struggled to death. If it’s run by the “gub”, there is going to be mismanagement and incompetence, no two ways about it. Who cares about law suits, it’s the taxpayers money. This stuff needs to be privatized.


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Cindy: IMO, it isn’t because this facility is run by the government that this happened, it is because the government agencies are all trying to do more with less. You honestly believe that private industry could do this better and cheaper? If there is a profit motive involved, you can bet that there will be corners cut to save expenses; possibly improperly trained staff, understaffed, possibly below code facilities and most likely no oversight so that the “private owners” can make a profit above all else. It was completely wrong for this attack to be allowed to happen, period; perhaps there was a breakdown in communication between staff and no one realized that a violent felon was locked up with a regular patient. The people running the facility dropped the ball totally, no question. To say that this could have been prevented in a privatized facility is literally throwing the baby out with the bath water; better training, better follow through, and checks and double checks to make sure that proper procedure is being followed is what will keep this type of attack from happening again.


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So you’re saying we should remind them to follow procedures? Could this have anything to do with the records clerk who might not have been paying attention to who was who? The records clerk who was caught stealing a physicians prescription pad last year from her place of work at the Count y Mental Health Facility and writing herself prescriptions for drugs? She was caught at the pharmacy, given a slap on the wrist and was allowed to return to work. Do you think that would ever happen in private industry? By the way, she earns over 60K a year and of course all those wonderful benefits. I’ll bet you $$ to donuts that we can do it better and for less with “gub” out of the picture.


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Am I clear that you want to privatize County Heakth? If you are, how will that work with citizens who have no money? By law, government has to provide this basic service. Without it, we would have a true 3rd World Society. Yes, the gob squad is entrenched. Always have and always will….the tale of the rich and poor. The trick with change is to encourage those in power to make change, true philisophical change.


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@godis, oops, I hadn’t read your post before I posted, sorry for being redundant. Good post though.


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No, not a Company like Blue Cross. There are many private company’s that specialize in various types of health care, You put the contract our for bid. The fact that you don’t end up with a bunch of “gub” employees that can’t be fired and demand ridiculous wages and benefits is what makes the difference.


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How are you going to stop another Blue Cross? Or how about we contract out to another Halliburton type of deal, I mean lets keep lining the pockets our our politicians with those guys. Or perhaps we could hire a private company that pays no taxes such GE or a company like Walmart that will buy everything from China. Better yet we could contract out to a private co. that will outsource our mentally disabled and send them to India. That’s all we need a big corp to rip us off,,I’d rather take my chances with the govt. at least we still have the power of the vote with the govt. we have no power over big corps.


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I guess you don’t understand what a contract is. It’s time for me to shut you off today. Sorry but that’s what I do when you get like this.


Sort of like when you insisted that Amazon.com was another one of those Corporation’s refusing to pay it’s fair share of their taxes because they didn’t want to collect sales tax from it’s online customers!


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Guess you don’t have rebuttal, that’s okay. The contractor has to paid by someone and that someone would be either the govt. or the clients unless aliens come from outer space to pay the contractor. BTW if I remember correctly the Amazon thing was in regards to Calif. wanting Amazon to pay state taxes.


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Oh wait, the Amazon thing was about Brown wanting Amazon to charge an online sales tax. Why are you bringing that up anyway. Did I make a mistake when I posting about that? Why are you diverting?


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Cindy, with all due respect, Halliburton and Blackwater had contracts, which they simply ignored and did what they wanted, anyway.


When budget auditors on scene, in Iraq, tried to hold them accountable, the auditors were FIRED.


Private industry cannot do a better job without charging more. Indeed, it will cost more, anyway, because of all of the scams private industry uses when performing on their government contracts.


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Of course it would happen in private industry, and the person would not necessarily be fired…especially if it was someone in management who did it.


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OMG I can only imagine a private co. like Blue Cross owning mental health facilities. What a terrible idea.

BTW who will pay the private company?


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‘3 Strikes’ might have prevented:


June 30, 2009 – petty theft and possession of marijuana

October 19, 2009 – battery with serious bodily harm

May 15, 2010 – child molestation and indecent exposure

June 10, 2010 – possession of a controlled substance

??? FUTURE ???


Competent staff would have prevented one crime.


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Really Kevin?. I’d expect a bit more from you- something along the lines of incompetence by mental health personnel. For McKiernan this is going to be the proverbial “like shooting fish in a barrel”. I hope the County isn’t paying Mr. Coates more than $20 an hr because he will never convince a jury that the County is somehow absolved of negligence with his argument that leaves out the one important issue of common sense.


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Perhaps one of the County MH staff who is sick of this type of BS will turn “deep throat” for CCN and provide a copy of staff’s policy and procedures manual.


There is no way that there is not a regulation that dictates that patients with known violent histories are not to be allowed unsupervised access to other patients. There is also probably a regulation about leaving an injured patient unattended.


Breaking those two regulations caused Mrs. Lane’s horrific injuries, from which she suffers to this day.


Oh, yeah. Just get ahold of the policies and procedures manual and Karen will be writing articles for weeks on County Mental Health and, in particular, the unforgivable assault on Mrs. Lane.


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Where is Shirreff now?


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“We were notified by public officials that he resides in Kern County now” the victims daughter said.


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This is why we voted for 3 Strikes.


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