In a recent story making waves in the Austin area, Michael Fitzsimmons—a downtown homeless man—was arrested in early September for assaulting Austin Police Chief Art Acevado. As a result, the Austin Police Department—led by Chief Acevado—has begun a new, heavier emphasis on the ongoing problem of homeless aggression, and, ideally, Austinites will notice a substantial difference in the downtown area soon.
The altercation between Fitzsimmons and Acevado began when the man refused to leave Eddie V’s, a restaurant on 5th Street in downtown Austin. Reportedly, the man had been sleeping on the premises of the restaurant and had ignored repeated requests to leave; at this point, “a witness who recognized Chief Acevedo in his plain clothes had asked him to help remove Fitzsimmons from the property,” but things escalated when Acevado confronted Fitzsimmons, according to KVUE . Apparently, “when the chief asked him to leave, Fitzsimmons reportedly stood up and pushed the chief, who then held him on the ground until police officers arrived.” Fitzsimmons was arrested and booked into Travis County Jail shortly thereafter, where he was charged with misdemeanor assault along with possession of marijuana.
When asked about the altercation by KVUE, Acevado contended that it is part of a growing problem in the Austin area: “I think it just speaks to the challenges we have with aggressive transients that don’t want to abide by the rules of society”.
Scott Smith, a resident of a downtown Austin condo, also maintains that there is an issue with growing aggression amongst the homeless population in Austin. According to KVUE, “Smith, who is blind, says he has been physically assaulted by someone living on the streets within the past year.”
“There have been an overwhelming number of incidents, but those that have been aggressive, about three,” said Scott.
While none of this is encouraging news, this is obviously an important issue that residents of Austin should keep in mind when going about their lives in the area. At Freedom Bail Bonds, our goal is to help our clients and community in every way that we can, and we pride ourselves on accomplishing that goal in an extremely credible and professional fashion. Whether we are assisting our clients in their times of need or helping the Austin area stay informed about current issues in the community, we make sure that those who come to Freedom Bail Bonds feel as safe and taken care of as possible. We feel that the genuine care that we have for our clients and community truly separates us from the rest, and when you call us, we are confident that you will feel the same way!
