A Homeless Man Leaves Meth Pipe In The Roosevelt Dollar Tree Bathroom

Posted by Travis Uresk | Dec. 1st, 2022 | Drugs | *Update 12/2/22* |

By Travis Uresk

12/1/22

Roosevelt, Ut.- On 11/19/22, Officer Lacy was called to the Dollar Tree for a suspicious man that had come into the store.

Officer Lacy talked to the employee, and he stated that a homeless man had come in and used the bathroom and was in there for about ten minutes.

The employee went into the bathroom after the homeless man left the store. He found a broken pipe in the sink and noticed he had left a backpack on the side of the building. The employee saw the homeless man sitting behind a building across the street.

Officer Lacy contacted the homeless man; he knew the male from previous dealings with him. The man is 38-year-old Cody Allen Shirley.

Officer Lacy asked Cody if he had used the bathroom at the Dollar Tree earlier, and he said that he had.

Cody Shirley was searched, and he had a green plastic bag in his front pocket with white residue consistent with meth. Cody was asked if the backpack left next to the Dollar Tree was his, and he said it was.

The backpack was also searched and inside the pack were three tall beer cans and one bottle of Barton Vodka. Cody is an alcohol-interdicted person as of 11/1/22.

Officer Lacy had Cody blow into a portable breath test, which came back as .167.

Photos were taken and collected for evidence.

Officer Lacy asked Cody where he gets his money to buy his alcohol and drugs, and he said, "people just give me money for it."

Cody Allen Shirley was placed in handcuffs and transported to the UBMC for medical clearance. Once he was cleared, Cody was transported to the Duchesne County Jail.

This is why you don't give money to homeless people; they buy drugs and alcohol with it. If you want to help them, provide them with food or clothing.

Should We Give Money to Homeless People on the Street, or Not?

Zoe Romanowsky-published on 04/21/16

Five people who work with the homeless every day tell us what they think

It’s another busy day, and as you hurry along to make it to your next appointment, a disheveled man standing on the corner asks you for money. You know you should give to the poor and you’ve got a five dollar bill in your pocket — should you give it to him, or not? And how can you best help the homeless and needy people you encounter on the street?

Aleteia posed these two questions to five people who work with the homeless and needy every day. Here’s how they answered the first question. (Their answer to the second will run in a second article tomorrow.)

Should we give money directly to homeless people on the street — why or why not?

I say no! — unless and until you really know them. I’ve given money to homeless people, but only once I know them and their need. Generally, my reply to a request is, “No, I can’t spare $2, but I can give you some food and my love.” In my opinion, in casual curbside interactions it’s far too easy to “throw money” at a problem and with that absolve our guilt. That just doesn’t work. It neither solves the problem nor respects the humanity of the homeless person in need. Get to know them — yes, seriously. Ask their name. Look them in the eye. Ask them to pray for you! Once you know them and their needs — really know them as a person — then you might feel free to loan or give them money in the same way that you would help a friend. So I say no initially. Resist the quick fix.

—Steve Sarnecki, a founder of SALT, a parish-based ministry which helps the hungry, homeless, lost and lonely of Baltimore City through hands-on outreach to people on the streets

*****

My father once told me that what you do for someone is between you and God, and what that person does with it is between him and God. However, my experience with this population has taught me a lot. The first thing that we must consider is: Is the person you encounter actually homeless or just a hustler? I have known people who hustle that way because that’s an easy way to generate some quick cash.

I have observed that addiction, mental illness and/or desperation cause those who are homeless to use the proceeds from panhandling for what they want rather than what they need. Not to say that it’s always used for things that are detrimental, but not thought about and used wisely. It’s a pretty scary thought to think that you might contribute to someone ultimately ending up in a worse situation. Which totally goes against our intentions.

—Cortez McDaniel, director of Men’s Programs and Services at The Father McKenna Center, a nonprofit social service agency in the Jesuit tradition serving the poor and homeless of Washington, DC

*****

Go with your heart. I personally give money to people on the streets because people on the streets obviously have nothing and that is what Jesus would do if he were here. And he is here through us.

—Mary Jo Copeland, founder and director of Sharing and Caring Hands ministry, which daily serves the needs of the poor in Minneapolis, MN

*****

Denver (where Christ in the City is based) has so many resources for those who want to get off the streets. We have a policy where we do not give out money to the homeless we encounter because it changes the nature of the relationship that we’re seeking to form. What we do seek to offer is a complete knowledge of the resources in Denver so that they can get what they need and have our accompaniment along the way.

—Phil Couture, director of formation and street ministry director with Christ in the City, a non-profit that forms people to know, love and serve the poor in Denver, CO

*****

I was recently driving in Nashville when I came across a wheelchair-bound man begging at a traffic light. As I approached, I noticed that he was furiously trying to scratch his back, with no success. So, I pulled over, gave him a few dollars and scratched his back for him. He was very grateful, more for the scratch than for the money! Why did I do it? In that moment I felt like the Holy Spirit was directing me. Other times I might have politely declined.

I guess my point is that there is no hard and fast rule for whether to give. We should look at each individual person and make a judgment informed by love and prudence. The only rule I would suggest is that each person should be acknowledged, not ignored. I believe that ignoring the pleas of the homeless, treating them like they are inanimate objects or bothersome insects, is far more destructive than not giving them money. In the end, dignity and respect are worth more than a couple of bucks.

—Mark Gordon, president of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul for the Diocese of Providence, RI

Why I Don’t Give Money to Homeless People

By Anthony Lam

Aug 30, 2021

For a long time, I would give money to people on the street who asked for help. I was a college student with some extra cash, so I figured the best way to spend it is on those who really need it.

But there was one big problem, I found that many of these people would use the money for alcohol, drugs and other unnecessary things. Some weren’t even homeless, they were just scamming people for their money.

They’d usually say, “got a dollar?” and when they got it, they would be on their way without a care in the world… I’ve come to the realisation that “got a dollar?” is practically their motto now.

One even got aggressive and demanded more and when I told him no, he told me to “go fuck myself”. Not cool.

I decided that instead of giving money, I would buy them food that way they can actually use what they’re getting instead of wasting them on something useless…

But I realised that giving them food is the same thing I was doing before, getting them something they don’t really need. What’s the point of buying a homeless person food when they could use that money to get a hotel room and a shower?

In a way, I feel sorry for them. Sure, they need help, but when you’re homeless and asking for money, people know that they’ve done something wrong to get there. No one wants to be homeless.

Seeing all of these things really made me wonder who I should help. The sad truth is, there will always be homeless people, and they will always ask for money.

I don’t think I’m ever going to give money out to people on the street again, but if I do, I’ll try my best to find out what their story is and see if there is a way I can help them.

Thanks for reading!