A resident at the secure residential treatment facility in Umatilla is in jail following a report of an assault.
The Umatilla Police Department in a statement reported officers at approximately 5 p.m. Friday, Nov. 15, responded to a report of an altercation at Lifeways McNary Place, a facility at 290 Willamette Ave. that provides long-term psychiatric care.
According to police, resident Jacob Verlo, 24, is accused of entering another resident’s private room and physically assaulting him, resulting in injuries. Afterward, Verlo climbed the facility’s exterior fence and fled.
Law enforcement personnel from the Umatilla Police Department and the Umatilla County Sheriff’s Office searched for Verlo and caught him at approximately 11:15 p.m. on Highway 395 while walking toward Hermiston. Police booked Verlo into the Umatilla County Jail for fourth-degree assault and strangulation.
According to state court records, the Oregon Public Guardian and Conservator in February 2023 sought guardianship for Verlo. In a petition to the Clackamas County Circuit Court, Kathleen Rutherford, deputy Oregon public guardian, stated Verlo “suffers from severe and persistent mental illness, which manifests through a lack of insight and judgment, as well as unsafe and impulsive behaviors, and which prevents him from providing for his own health and safety.”
Circuit Judge Cody M. Weston in June 2023 found Verlo was incapacitated and appointed a guardian “for an indefinite period” to ensure Verlo’s health or safety. The Oregon Department of Justice in September 2023 placed Verlo at McNary Place.
The most recent report on Verlo’s guardianship
Julie Rivet, the deputy public guardian for Eastern Oregon, on July 3 filed a six-page report to the court on the guardianship that states:
“Mr. Verlo continues to suffer from severe and persistent mental illness (SPMI) and continues to take medications as it is part of his requirement for placement. These medications assist with most of Mr. Verlo’s mental health symptoms. Mr. Verlo does not believe that he needs to take these medications and does not fully believe his diagnosis requires medications. Mr. Verlo has little to no insight into the outcome of his behaviors and choices. When not taking medications, he will greatly decompensate and experienced delusions. Mr. Verlo has historically put himself and others at risk of imminent harm. Mr. Verlo’s mental health symptoms continue to interfere daily with his ability to make sound decisions, which impacts his ability to function independently.”
Court records show Verlo on July 17 pleaded guilty to menacing in a 2022 case in Clackamas County, where the state accused him of trying to use a knife to harm someone. The court placed Verlo on probation for three years for the misdemeanor menacing charge.
My son has the same problem but waiting for gardship i had him going on years and each year he gets worse i need someone one that will help me real soon i leave in Hermiston Oregon and Karl rinehart in trying to help but nothing is getting done