Prescott Police arrested a local transient on charges of aggravated assault Tuesday at Granite Creek Park after he allegedly tried to stab another man.
When Prescott Police arrived at 10:40 a.m., Timothy D. Westhouse, 58, threw down a knife and tried to leave, said Lt. Clayton Heath, public information officer for the Prescott Police Department. Witnesses told police Westhouse allegedly tried to stab another person with a knife, Heath said.
Victims and witnesses said Westhouse allegedly approached a man cooking a meal and yelled and cursed at him, Heath said. Then Westhouse allegedly pulled out a knife and said he was going to kill the man, Heath added.
The victim picked up a frying pan to ward off Westhouse's advances with the knife, Heath said. Witnesses said they heard the knife hit the pan several times during the attack, Heath said.
Prescott Police booked Westhouse into the Camp Verde jail on charges of one count of attempted negligent homicide, four counts of aggravated assault, three counts of disorderly conduct with a dangerous weapon, 13 counts of disorderly conduct, 11 counts of endangerment and one count of criminal damage.
Reader Comments
Posted: Wednesday, December 02, 2009
Article comment by:
East-wood
Very nice. I suggest, my friend, take some some high school English and then maybe a couple years down a road we can have some conversation. As far as telling me about having kids. Hmm... drugs must have clouded your mind. That is not your decision to make. God bless You.
Posted: Tuesday, December 01, 2009
Article comment by:
poor East-Wood
Hey East-Wood tough guy where are you from or your parents it's people like you who make AZ.people look stupid for my family sake i hope you don't have kids because with your thinking the world is not a better place but i will pray for you.
Posted: Tuesday, December 01, 2009
Article comment by:
East-wood
Hey is for horses Thomas.The real Arizonans carry and do not count on the government help.You are obviously just another transplant.
Posted: Monday, November 30, 2009
Article comment by:
Thomas Neely
Hey Resident why do i need to tell you what happened if i call police they make a report and we as people of AZ. can read this report.To bad PEOPLE like you can't help your towns police dept. by calling in something you see going on wrong but instead bad mouth are police dept. but if somebody robbed your home i bet the 1st people you call is THE POLICE. hahahaha your funny.
Posted: Monday, November 30, 2009
Article comment by:
Joe
I don't understand? Someone broke the law, was arrested, and a Court will determine appropriate consequences for their actions. Where does the assumption come from that he is mentally ill? He may well be, but (some) residents are just plain drunks, and no, I don't believe that's a mental illness. These posts become so repetitive it's sickening. My favorites are the do-gooders who think a little love and proper treatment can solve all the worlds problems. I've been involved in both the mental health, and law enforcement realms for over 20 years, and trust me, you are wrong! Can some be helped? Yes but they are far and few between. Most are non-compliant with treatment, and chose to "self medicate". Yes, no matter how nice and kind of a person you are, they are a danger to you too! I've met some of the sweetest and most well intentioned victims you could imagine over the years. Do we need a better mental health system, yes we do, but as some have pointed out, somebody has to pay for it. Next are the "kill em' all" people. I don't think I even need to address that as ridiculous as it is. I will admit however that it would in fact be more effective than the holding hands and singing songs as the liberals suggest. Then there is the group that will find fault with anything that law enforcement does. Seriously, I believe I have seen two nearly identical situations handled the complete opposite way, and the same boneheads complain that each one should have been handled the other way. This situation isn't Obama's fault, nor was it Bush's. Here's a novel idea, adult human beings make choices, and each individual should be held accountable for their own. Regardless of the reasons behind it. We need to stop making excuses for everyone. The jail and courts are the most effective means of getting people mental health care after they "act out" in a criminal manner. If this turns out to be the case here, he will receive treatment. If he's just a drunk, he'll go to prison. Maybe a bit of both. I don't generally post here, but every once and a while the ignorance gets to me. So many jump to conclusions without having all the facts. So many judge the actions of others without having ever been faced with a similar situation, or really having any idea what they would do themselves if they didn't have two days to think about it in the comfort of their home. If you want to change something, do something about it! In the meantime stop criticizing the people who actually get off their butts and try to make things better for all of us.
Posted: Monday, November 30, 2009
Article comment by:
Resident
Thomas...or should I call you Dorothy.If a crime happens to you and you do call the cops can you tell us what happens?
Posted: Sunday, November 29, 2009
Article comment by:
Grundlecat
"Too kind" -- 'this class of people?' I certainly hope the local law enforcement recognizes what 'class' you are should you ever be unfortunate enough to become homeless, or (perhaps worse?) LOOK like you're homeless.
Posted: Sunday, November 29, 2009
Article comment by:
Thomas Neely
Hey (out of control) who do you call first then your house is robbed or someone hits you and steals your purse or wallet. It's people like you who don't do anything to help your city please don't be afraid to print your name hahahahaha
Posted: Sunday, November 29, 2009
Article comment by:
OUT OF CONTROL
wow 32 charges out of 1 incident and nobody even got hurt. what a joke this is. the whole judicial and law enforcement system is one big joke. the system at this point is so out of hand thats its unbelievable.
Posted: Sunday, November 29, 2009
Article comment by:
Wendell
Yes I agree, carry a handgun. It's going to get a lot worse as the economy keeps sliding down the tubes. Can't we get these kind of folks sent back to Texas or California? Give 'em a bus ticket out of town.
Posted: Sunday, November 29, 2009
Article comment by:
Bob Johnson
Not all "crazies" and/or "transients" want to be medicated or treated, Andrea. Please get it out of your head that Obamacare is a magic bullet for every problem.
Posted: Saturday, November 28, 2009
Article comment by:
No name provided
Granite Creek Park is a DISGRACE and a sad statement about our community. And as another poster wrote, the courthouse square and whiskey row are also under siege. Only ignorant folks will pretend that these situations aren't dangerous and getting worse all the time. But some just love their blissful existence far too much to be bothered with such things. They believe that good intentions will solve every thing.
Posted: Saturday, November 28, 2009
Article comment by:
Putin
And again.It boils down to a helthcare system which is not pro-active. If this guy had his meds 30 years ago he would be now a productive citizen.Little too late.
Obama has a very hard job ahead of him. To fix a broken system with people who do not get it until it is too late.American greed is hitting right at home,in America.Health is not a comodity.Europe had figured that a long time ago.Help your own country for a change.
Carrying gun to a park which is designed for kids to play is as dumb as the local healthcare system.Think about it.
Posted: Saturday, November 28, 2009
Article comment by:
trippetta
There has already been a murder there, Frank Scott Giardina, a "derelict" (whom I guess does not count) done most likely by "good kids" from "good homes" (which has to this date to my knowledge not been solved.) Granite Creek Park was the red light district where hookers johns & hobos shared camp over 100 years ago, history just has a way of repeating itself. If he did the crime he should pay, mental or not; and where do you come up with the figure of $4,000.00 a day? I'm sure it would vary from facility to facility. Site your source?? And Maybe too Kind, learn how to use proper vocabulary if you wish to masquerade as a better "class", too means also; to, is in this instance the proper word.
Posted: Saturday, November 28, 2009
Article comment by:
Andrea
Re: I won't pay for it...
Maybe if someone had paid for his healthcare prior to this incident via a better healthcare plan...maybe you wouldn't have to foot this bill...
Posted: Saturday, November 28, 2009
Article comment by:
I won't pay for it
Mental or not, he is still a CRIMINAL. If the county sends him to the state mental hospital, it costs the taxpayers, $4,000 a DAY! That's right. $4,000 for ONE day. You wanna foot THAT bill? I don't.
Posted: Saturday, November 28, 2009
Article comment by:
Clean it up
Maybe the new city administration will actually clean up the the cess pool that Granite Creek Park has sadly become? Dare I hope? Or does somebody have to be killed?
Posted: Saturday, November 28, 2009
Article comment by:
Kaos
Another reason To carry a gun.
Posted: Saturday, November 28, 2009
Article comment by:
RE: heartless and uncaring
Tougher? 33 total criminal charges and years in prison should have you doing back flips this holiday season. I think this man was employed as a part time cook and lived in a hotel. So closing the doors to the Churches and declaring war against ("this class of people") Book readers, Park walkers and Thrift store employees,
customers and people who look poor, might not be necessary.
Posted: Saturday, November 28, 2009
Article comment by:
put him away from society
hey "wrong solution" why dont you let him into your bleeding heart home. If one of your family was the victim in this you would be asking for his head.
Posted: Saturday, November 28, 2009
Article comment by:
Give system a chance
To WRONG SOLUTION: Police officers are not medical professional, and therefore can not determine if someone is a mental health patient, even if they exhibit obvious behavior. So, step 1: Arrest them and get them away from people they might hurt. Step 2: Let the counselors at the jail and those appointed by the court system determine if they would be better served at a mental health facility. Jail isn't the end of the process for any arrestee -- it's only the first of many steps towards a resoultion. Believe it or not, the process does work sometimes, and those needing help actually do get it.
Posted: Saturday, November 28, 2009
Article comment by:
Remember when they were hobos
"Maybe too kind?" - Your comment "police...could be tougher on this class of people." reeks of prejudice and profiling. The police can't chose to be tougher on a particular "class" of people. What would you suggest the police do to these poeple??
Posted: Saturday, November 28, 2009
Article comment by:
No name provided
Wow, there sure are a lot of cold people here. You should know that most of the crime around here is done by residents, and it's less than 5% from transients. But heck, at least the residents usually look more presentable, so it's ok I guess. Personally, I'm more worried about my neighbors than the people looking to stay warm.
Posted: Saturday, November 28, 2009
Article comment by:
Cassandra
I've seen some scary folks in that park, so I carry a handgun.
This guy just succeeded in finding a nice cozy warm place to stay for the winter, and meals and warm showers are included. I had to pay big bucks to stay at an all-inclusive, and now I get to pay for his...Oh, I forgot- doesn't he also get health care with his stay? Got to really appreciate the system we've got.
