I am writing this urgent petition to express my serious concern regarding the case of Nicholas James Thomas, currently detained in Lake County Jail in Lake county California. I implore the community and authorities to oppose any efforts to grant him mental health diversion. Given his long history of violent behavior and the grave threat he poses to public safety, it is imperative that he remains incarcerated.
Nicholas James Thomas, age 29, has a disturbing pattern of violent criminal activity. He was convicted of a heinous crime in 2015, when he hit a man in the head with a hatchet during an altercation on Forest Lake Drive in Cobb. The assault was triggered when the victim attempted to intervene during Thomas’s heated confrontation with a woman. Thomas chased her, yelling obscenities, and became aggressive, ultimately striking the man with the weapon. Despite a lengthy search, authorities located him in Oregon on the run. Now he calls himself "Hatchett man" proudly. 
More recently, Thomas’s violent tendencies have escalated. He has assaulted his live-in girlfriend, grabbing her by the neck and attempting to strangle her. After being released, he violated restraining orders by returning to her home in Middletown and threatening to kill her. His actions led to multiple arrests, but inexplicably, he was released again. Without regard for public safety, he then led Lake County Sheriff’s deputies on a slow-speed chase throughout Cobb Harrington Flats and Big Canyon Road, seemingly on his way to harass his ex-girlfriend once more. During this incident, he committed multiple felonies, further demonstrating his dangerous nature.
Despite his criminal record and violent history, Thomas is now asking for mental health diversion. However, this is profoundly concerning. He is a known violent offender who uses intimidation and violence to control those around him. He has bragged about helping to kill or make weapons for murder while in prison.
This individual’s violent past, coupled with his recent actions and alleged involvement in serious crimes, clearly disqualifies him from any form of diversion. To keep our community safe, he must remain behind bars. His release would pose an unacceptable risk to innocent people who live here and to the stability of our community.
I strongly urge the authorities to deny Nicholas James Thomas any requests for mental health diversion and to prioritize public safety above all else. We must ensure that dangerous individuals like him are held accountable and kept away from our families.
Please sign this petition to help protect our community from further harm.