Residents of the affluent Brentwood neighborhood in Los Angeles are grappling with a persistent issue: a woman who has been repeatedly defecating in public on local sidewalks. The behavior, described by some as occurring "every morning," has led to significant distress and calls for intervention from local authorities and mental health services.
Video footage circulating among residents captures the woman openly defecating and wiping herself on a grass sidewalk. Witnesses have reported the woman exhibiting aggressive behavior, with one resident, Wendy Kush, recounting an incident where the woman allegedly threatened her and her young daughter while Kush was walking her dogs.
"I couldn’t get the lab to move because she was moving really slow. Luckily, I finally just started running and the dogs followed me, but it was really scary," Kush told Fox 11. She added that she initially felt sympathy for the woman and attempted to connect her with assistance programs.
According to Kush, a help group took six months to locate the woman, but she ultimately refused services, leaving agencies unable to provide further help. Other residents have been told that agencies cannot intervene unless a "violent act" is committed.
"They’re all very compassionate. They wanna help, but their hands are tied is what we’re constantly told. We’re also told that they really can’t do anything unless there’s an actual violent act," said Brentwood resident Laurie Sideman.
Mayor Karen Bass's office has been alerted to the situation and has reportedly engaged the County Emergency Centralized Response Center to deploy its mental health outreach team. The city of Los Angeles relies on county services for mental health support.
City councilwoman Traci Parks characterized the situation as a "prime example of the ongoing mental health crisis on our streets" and emphasized the need for the County Mental Health Department's assistance.
Residents have expressed frustration over the apparent inability of authorities to address the situation, noting the disparity between their own adherence to public order and the ongoing public health concern. "So basically, if someone poops right here, it’s fine. But if I throw something out of my car, I get a ticket," commented resident Shawn Shayan.