ANACONDA - An Anaconda man who had a homicide charged dropped against him due to mental illness is back in Anaconda.
“I’m not the least bit happy about it, our law enforcement is not the least bit happy about it,” said Anaconda-Deer Lodge County Attorney Ben Krakowka.
Tyler Smith was charge in the stabbing death of his grandmother in her Oak Street home in May of 2017. A mental evaluation ordered by the court determined Smith unfit for trial and the charges had to be dismissed.
“This was a case where he’s not fit to proceed, and fitness will not likely be regained in the foreseeable future,” said Krakowka.
The Department of Health and Human Services took custody of Smith, and he was recently released back into the community unsupervised. In addition to his former homicide charge, police say Smith has had a history of violence.
“And if he’s not being closely supervised by somebody who can control him, it creates a dangerous situation,” said Krakowka.
The county attorney believes that the legislators recent budget cuts to the Montana State Hospital and lack of local resources in dealing with mental health issues will, unfortunately, cause more people like Tyler Smith fall through the cracks.
“And with the cutting of those programs, the only place left for those persons is in the community,” said Krakowka.
The county attorney added that his office has no avenue to change the Department of Health and Human Service’s decision.
