A question of possession

Some homeless individuals claim they lose everything when arrested

Posted

Editor’s note: All individuals interviewed consented to be quoted in this article. Most of the individuals requested to remain anonymous.

An anonymous homeless woman with two shopping carts full of possessions was recently arrested by Olympia Police Department (OPD) officers for “pedestrian interference.”  After being cited, she was turned back out onto the streets. 

“When I got back to where I’d been standing with my stuff, all of it was gone,” she said several days later. “Now I’ve nothing left but what I’m wearing.” 

What the homeless woman said raises the question of what happens to a homeless person’s belongings — whether in a backpack or a shopping cart — when they are arrested.   

“For anyone carrying a large item on them at the time of their arrest (for example a backpack, handbag or computer bag, those large items would be logged into OPD’s evidence facility until the person goes through their court proceeding,” wrote Kellie Braseth, the city’s communications director. 

“Any small items that would fit into someone’s pockets (wallet, keys, etc.) would be bagged and accompany the person to the jail they are going to."

But when it comes to shopping carts, Braseth said that the “OPD will take bags and other personal belongings (nonperishables) out of a shopping cart for the person and book them into excess property in the evidence facility.” 

To many of the Olympia’s homeless, this does not seem to be the case.   

To address the issue, The JOLT News conducted an informal survey.  Much like Thurston County’s annual point-in-time census of the homeless, this survey provided only a snapshot of what the homeless think about police actions toward their possessions. 

During a four hour period of time, 34 homeless individuals were asked the following question:  If you have been arrested by the police, what happened to your belongings? 

Twenty-two (or 64.7 percent) of the respondents were male; 12 (or 35.2 percent) were female. These percentages roughly parallel the data the county collected during its latest point-in-time census. 

Six of the 22 males (27.3 percent) reported that after an arrest their possessions were returned to them.  “Yeah, they took my backpack and some other stuff, but I usually get everything back,” several reported.  

The remaining 16 males (72.3 percent) reported that if they had a shopping cart with their belongings, their belongings were not returned. 

“A lot of times the cops simply leave our stuff in the streets where it is either stolen or picked up by city crews,” one homeless man named Bob said.  “Either way, I’ve lost everything.” 

As to the 12 females, they all reported that they received their small items back; however, if they had a shopping cart or stroller, they all said they lost everything in it.  

“When we’re arrested, we lose our shit,” a women named Kelce angrily stated.  “Clothes, medications, paperwork, phones, even some stuff like photographs — everything is gone because our stuff is left on the streets to be stolen or disposed of.” 

While the possession of a shopping cart by a homeless person is not considered a “personal” belonging, much, if not all, contained in the cart are their possessions. 

“Homeless people are treated no differently than housed people should they be arrested by the OPD,” said Braseth. 

“OPD might arrest someone at their home or in their car, but they will not just take the items the person has in the home or car ….” 

This raises an interesting question: If housed people do not lose their possessions if they are arrested, why do unhoused individuals lose their possessions when they are arrested? 

Comments

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  • bonaro

    No one owns a shopping card except the merchants. If a vagrant has "possession" of one they they are in possession of stolen property...it's really quite easy to figure out.

    Friday, December 6, 2024 Report this

  • BillString

    If you allow them to collect possessions and stay in the city, then they build places to store it, and we end up with a situation like The Jungle. And I would love to know how many of their "possessions" are stolen from residents cars, yards and mailboxes. My neighborhood in two years went from no problems to an increased homeless presence and correlating increase in disturbances and thefts.

    Friday, December 6, 2024 Report this

  • Boatyarddog

    If we as a Society were to actually work to House the Homeless.

    These problems would be Voided.

    Complaining only serves the Complainer.

    Try adding more Tiny homes.

    Friday, December 6, 2024 Report this

  • OlyGuy

    @Boatyarddog.. yes let's do more tiny homes like Quince Village that became a giant dumpster and keep spending tax payer money to "house" them. I would love to see a report about the effectiveness of housing first. How many are getting jobs? How many are finding permanent housing? The city doesn't do this research or reporting because the policies don't work. Force people into rehab or mental health treatment, otherwise we just enable the antisocial behavior. Sick or dumping money into enablement.

    Friday, December 6, 2024 Report this

  • gypsydjango

    Oh wow, such mean and selfish talk about "THEM"..... It actually hurts to read these comments. May you be so lucky to have the privilege for now.

    Wednesday, December 11, 2024 Report this