Baltimore's Broken System: A Mother's Fight for Justice After Her Son's Death

In June 2025, Dontae Melton Jr. reached out to Baltimore police for help during a mental health crisis, trusting they would assist him, as they had in the past. Instead, his mother, Eleshiea Goode, watched as her son's life slipped away due to what she describes as negligence and a flawed system. Officers restrained Melton, noting his rapid pulse and high temperature, but an ambulance never arrived because of a dispatch system breakdown. Eventually, an officer drove him to a nearby hospital, but it was too late. The medical examiner ruled his death a homicide, caused by drug intoxication, hyperthermia, and restraint. The Maryland Attorney General's Office decided not to prosecute any of the 10 officers involved, stating they did not act recklessly or negligently. This decision left Goode in disbelief, feeling the report blamed her son for his own crisis.Goode fears another tragedy could happen again without significant changes to the system. She emphasizes that her son was a decent human being who deserved to live. Melton's case is not isolated. Just days before his death, police shot and killed Bilal "BJ" Abdullah, and the day after, they killed Pytorcarcha Brooks, both during mental health crises. These incidents highlight the urgent need for reform in how Baltimore responds to behavioral health emergencies. The Baltimore City Council held a hearing to address these issues, acknowledging the current crisis response system is inadequate. City Council President Zeke Cohen emphasized that not every 911 call requires police intervention and that community safety responders should be deployed as quickly as officers. Funding remains a big challenge, but Cohen noted that opioid restitution funds could help. He stressed that saving lives is priceless and that tackling violence and community safety should be a priority.