Homeless Man and Repeat Offender Appears Before Court After Third Arrest
View at XIrwin Makes First Court Appearance
Saturday afternoon, repeat offender Steve Irwin made his first court appearance after being arrested in Seattle’s Dr. Jose Rizal Park. Prosecutors say he had multiple stolen licenses in his wallet and is now facing 2nd Degree Identity Theft charges. The judge found probable cause and set bail at $35K. Irwin also has an active warrant out for his arrest and is facing charges from other cases.
Busted Again
Friday afternoon, Seattle Police arrested homeless man Steve Irwin in Dr. Jose Rizal Park. This is now the THIRD TIME cops have taken Irwin away in handcuffs since last October. Neighbors called 911 after noticing heavy machinery and an elaborate encampment.
Repeat Offender
Irwin is a repeat offender, chronically homeless, and a drug addict. Authorities say he’s also chopped down trees, started illegal fires, and destroyed vegetation with a stolen excavator. That’s why he’s banned from the park. He’s refused offers of housing multiple times.
Arrested Last October
Back in October, police arrested Irwin for stealing an excavator. But he made bail and ended up back on the streets.
Interview with Irwin in January
Then in January, he was spotted again in the same spot doing the same thing.
Arrested in February
Irwin got arrested again in February. But there is now concern some far-left activist neighbors keep bailing him out instead of getting him the help he needs.
Housing First and Harm Reduction Fail People Like Irwin
Once again, Irwin proves “housing first” and “harm reduction” strategies are failing and enabling addiction. This man needs an intervention and treatment. The activists and the homeless industrial complex will keep saying this is an affordable housing problem. Not in this case. The root causes here are drug addiction, mental illness, and broken relationships. No one in his family wants him back until he gets better. Until then, it appears Seattle parks and taxpayers will have to shoulder this burden if they let him out again.
