North Little Rock Mayor Terry Hartwick has come to the defense of city employee, Patrick Lane, after a video surfaced showing Lane confronting a homeless man, George Mays, while brandishing a golf club. Mays, a homeless former chef, was sleeping in a tent in Riverfront Park when Lane demanded he leave the area. Mays complied but began filming when Lane brandished the golf club. Hartwick stated that Lane carries the club due to homeless people being “very vicious.”
Hartwick defended Lane, claiming that Mays was the aggressor and accused him of being abusive toward a woman in the video. Mays denies these claims and posted the video on Facebook to raise awareness about the treatment of homeless individuals. He expressed emotional distress at the encounter and explained the challenges of being homeless in North Little Rock, where ordinances against public camping limit options for shelter.
The video depicts an imbalance of power between the unarmed Mays and Lane wielding a weapon. Homeless advocacy groups have criticized ordinances prohibiting public camping, and Mays highlighted the lack of safe spaces for homeless individuals. He expressed a desire to leave Arkansas due to difficulties accessing resources and shelters while carrying his belongings.
Hartwick stated that no administrative action would be taken against Lane and defended his actions during the encounter with Mays. The incident has sparked conversation about the treatment of homeless individuals in North Little Rock and the challenges they face in finding safe spaces to sleep and obtain necessary resources.
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