SOUTHERN COLORADO — In News 5's continuing coverage of the officer-involved shooting in Monument that left 20-year-old David Page dead, we spoke with his mother, Crystina Page, who told us the mental health system failed her son long before the shooting.
Crystina Page said she was on scene when the shooting happened, but did not know her son had died at first. "I feel bad I couldn't help him," said Crystina. She said her son was someone who loved the outdoors, music, and animals.
Since David died, Crystina said she has been going through lots of old photographs, and she cannot believe the child in the pictures would meet this outcome. However, Crystina said the first time a doctor tried to put her son on medication was when he was very young. "There was one point that he was on eight medications at once... These are drugs that we can't even pronounce or spell, and they're putting them in this child's body, because that's the only solution in their mind," said Crystina.
Crystina said the mental health system is not equipped to handle children, and with all of the medications her son was given, he lost himself before he was even old enough to know who he was. "My son was stripped of his character and personality," said Crystina.
Crystina also said she hopes people will not be quick to take sides in this officer-involved shooting. "I think that there is a huge gray area in between here, where my son made some decisions, and a SWAT officer had to make his decision... When the results of that investigation come out, then we'll have the answers that we need," said Crystina, who believes this time should be used to remember her son.
Crystina Page also said she has dedicated her life to helping others in crisis, which is one of the reasons this is so difficult for her. She is one of the people behind MontemAra, where people in crisis can go to find their passion and purpose. She said they have to finish paying off the land, and then will construct homes for people to use, but for now, she's actually helped people right out of her home.
