Nathalia Granada’s Broken Arm and Systemic Failure

By Darius Spearman (africanelements)

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In October 2023 Nathalia Granada sat in a Tamarac hospital parking lot gripped by a severe mental health episode. Diagnosed with bipolar disorder and schizophrenia she had been driven there by her cousin seeking help. When she refused to exit the vehicle a paramedic called 911 labeling her “crazy” rather than clarifying her medical needs. Bodycam footage later showed Deputy Helmut Murillo yanking Granada from the car despite her nonviolent resistance. The struggle ended with a snapped humerus bone and a lawsuit alleging excessive force (Atlanta Black Star).

This incident epitomizes a dangerous pattern. Law enforcement often becomes the frontline response to mental health crises despite lacking specialized training. Granada’s case sparked outrage not just for the violence but for revealing how systems designed to protect frequently harm instead. Meanwhile Florida’s Baker Act allows involuntary psychiatric holds yet offers no safeguards against misuse during police interactions. The result? A fractured arm and a fractured trust in institutions meant to serve vulnerable populations.

Florida’s Mental Health Crisis By the Numbers

Florida leads the nation in adults battling mental illness—nearly 3 million people according to 2024 data. That’s equivalent to the entire population of Chicago. Yet 13.6% lack insurance coverage leaving them stranded without care. The consequences are stark. Between 2016 and 2019 depression rates jumped from 14.2% to 17.7% while 90% of counties saw suicides outpace homicides (NAMI).

These statistics aren’t abstract. They translate to overwhelmed ERs underfunded clinics and law enforcement scrambling to fill gaps. When someone like Granada decompensates the 988 crisis hotline should be the first call. Yet Florida’s 988 centers answer only 78% of calls due to staffing shortages. Without proper support officers become default responders ill-equipped to handle psychiatric emergencies. This mismatch fuels tragedies and taxpayer burdens alike.

Law Enforcement’s Role in Mental Health Emergencies

When deputies approached Granada they saw a “noncompliant suspect” not a woman mid-psychiatric episode. This perception gap proves deadly. Nationally 1 in 4 people killed by police have mental illnesses. Florida’s Baker Act complicates matters further. While designed to mandate care it often funnels people into handcuffs instead of hospitals. In 2023 alone 210000 Floridians were Baker Acted—a 22% jump from 2020 (Florida Baker Act Report).

Some departments are adopting crisis intervention teams (CIT) with promising results. CIT-trained officers use de-escalation tactics and partner with mental health pros. However only 32% of Florida’s law enforcement personnel have this training. Without it encounters risk spiraling into violence. Granada’s case shows what happens when force replaces empathy and policy lags behind reality.

Pathways to Reform: Training, Funding, and Accountability

Granada’s lawsuit could become a catalyst for change. Advocates demand three fixes: better training sustained funding and transparent accountability. Florida’s DCF seeks $3.3 million to boost 988 response rates. Pairing this with CIT expansion would reduce unnecessary police involvement. Meanwhile permanent supportive housing slashes costs and hospitalizations. For every dollar invested $2.80 is saved in emergency services (Urban Institute).

Bodycam footage forced Granada’s story into the light. Now the challenge is turning visibility into action. From Tampa to Tallahassee communities are pushing for co-responder models where medics and counselors join police on crisis calls. These programs cut injuries by 38% in pilot cities. For Florida’s 3 million struggling residents such reforms can’t come soon enough.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Darius Spearman is a professor of Black Studies at San Diego City College, where he has been teaching since 2007. He is the author of several books, including Between The Color Lines: A History of African Americans on the California Frontier Through 1890. You can visit Darius online at africanelements.org.