Tylor Chase, the child star of Nickelodeon, appears unrecognizable while filming his alleged addiction and mental health issues while he is living on the streets.
Police in the US have responded to claims they haven’t done enough to help troubled Nickelodeon child star Tylor Chase.
In the early 1990s, the 36-year-old actor rose to fame in the role of the talkative and extremely intelligent student Martin Qwerly in the Nickelodeon series Ned’s Declassified School Survival Guide. Everybody Hates Chris, a TV show from 2005, also aired with him.
But Tylor – who has been open about his mental health struggles with bipolar disorder – sparked concern after being filmed looking distressed as he lived rough on the streets of Riverside, California earlier this month.
The video, which has racked up thousands of views, prompted a wave of shock from those who grew up watching the hit Nickelodeon series that followed three middle school pupils navigating everyday challenges, with a cast including Devon Werkheiser, Daniel Curtis Lee and Lindsey Shaw.
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Tylor was hospitalised over Christmas following help from his former co-stars and concerned fans. But days later he was sadly spotted on the streets again.
Tylor, who has been receiving support from social media influencer Jake Harris, was placed on a 72-hour involuntary psychiatric hold and was scheduled to enter a rehab facility, according to Jake Harris, who has been helping the former child star.
But Mighty Ducks star Shaun Weiss, a friend of Jake’s, told TMZ: “They were supposed to hold him and then transport him to a detox facility that we had arranged. Instead, they let him out without contacting any of us.” He also revealed that Tylor was “smoking meth during the evaluation with no shoes or jacket in the freezing cold.”
Following a backlash from fans, police have released a statement saying that despite their efforts Tylor has so far refused to accept any help. Riverside Police Chief Larry Gonzalez told PEOPLE magazine: “What we’re seeing play out with Tylor is, unfortunately, something we see every day, not just in Riverside, but across California.
It is obvious from the online videos that he is struggling with mental illness and substance abuse. The issue is that, in reality, personal choice is the underlying principle of our current mental health system. If someone is “in crisis,” they must voluntarily accept services unless very specific legal requirements are met.
Gonzalez continued, “Outsourcing teams have been in frequent contact with Tylor and have repeatedly offered services, long before the recent public attention, and continuing since then. He has come a long way to accepting help, but the person must make the final decision, and he has now turned down those services.
He responded to suggestions that Tylor should be taken into custody by the police by saying that “in California, arrests for drug possession or being under the influence are only misdemeanor offenses,” which would not prolong his jail time. He continued, “Those charges are considered non-violent, and due to a federal court order addressing Riverside County’s jail overcrowding, individuals are frequently released quickly without getting treatment, which places them right back where they left off.
Within the mental health system, “the same cycle runs.” Individuals are released back onto the streets frequently without being given any kind of immediate care unless they make a voluntary commitment or adhere to strict legal requirements for involuntary treatment. It’s a frustrating and heartbreaking cycle that highlights how inadequately integrated society is in treating homelessness, addiction, and mental health.
The Riverside Police Department’s Public Safety Engagement Team (PSET), according to a statement from the department, is made up of officers who have been specifically trained to work with people who are homeless. These services have been provided to Tylor, but he has so far declined to get help.
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*Frank offers confidential advice about drugs and addiction (email frank@talktofrank.com, message 82111 or call 0300 123 6600) or the NHS has information about getting help.
Source: Mirror
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