Hate Crime, Mental Health, and System Failures | Lexington News

A Lexington hospital worker wearing a hijab was spat on and threatened with death outside a University of Kentucky hospital—leading to the arrest of 52-year-old Damian Hisle, who faces harassment and terroristic threat charges. Hisle, diagnosed with severe paranoid schizophrenia since the 1990s, has a troubling history of untreated mental illness, multiple court involvements, and periods of being deemed incompetent to stand trial. His family expresses sympathy for victims while urging for better, long-term care. The case highlights a systemic gap in Lexington’s mental health support, as individuals like Hisle often cycle through systems without sustained treatment. He also faces additional charges tied to a similar incident at another UK hospital just days prior, with his next court date set for September 11th—where his mental state will be central to proceedings. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/43323858f0f35ba9