As the mentally disturbed continues to roam freely in San Fernando, a street dweller had customers and employees scampering for cover when he ran amok at Plaza Montano, smashing glass panels in the process.
Business owners now fear for their safety as it was not the first time that the street dweller acted out violently and has been known to terrorise employees in the stores.
Previously, he caused a commotion along High Street when he beat another homeless man with the metal cover of a trash bin.
Last week Thursday, he walked through the streets naked, causing parents to cover their children’s eyes.
Responding to the outcry by the business community for the homeless crisis to be addressed, San Fernando mayor Junia Regrello said it was a sensitive situation that the San Fernando City Corporation was dealing with.
He said when drastic action is taken, human rights advocate protests, although some of the street dwellers’ actions pose a threat to people and themselves. He said new legislation was needed to remedy homelessness and when this is done, they would need qualified workers to tend to mentally ill street dwellers.
“We will have to do some investigations and seek guidance on how to deal with it because it is definitely getting out of hand now,” Regrello said.
Police reported that around 8.30 am on Monday, the man went to the plaza along High Street with a piece or iron in his hand.
He smashed a glass showcase at Tora’s Cafe before walking to the front of the building and breaking the glass pane at Subway Restaurant.
Plaza security Louis Albarado said the enraged man came around 7.30 am, irritated that someone had stolen his pair of slippers.
Albarado said a vendor selling CDs told the man to go to a nearby booth where he would get a free pair.
However, the man was adamant that he must have his slippers back and began hurling expletives at everyone who passed.
More furious than before, the man smashed the glass at the café, causing the workers to run and then went to Subway. When he was done, he went outside a nearby bank and banged on the glass, but was quickly chased away by another security officer.