Prince George’s County opens first 24/7 mental health care center

Yolanda Gales waited in a hospital ambulance bay last week, watching a 70-year-old woman in handcuffs. The woman had been detained by police and brought to the hospital as part of an emergency petition — a court order mandating she receive an urgent mental health evaluation. Six and a half hours later, the woman still hadn’t received medical attention. And by the time Gales finally left the hospital close to midnight, the woman still sat there, hands cuffed.