People v. Stroh CA1/4

I. BACKGROUND

In December 2021, the Alameda County District Attorney filed a felony complaint charging Stroh with unlawfully driving or taking a vehicle (Veh. Code, § 10851, subd. (a)) and assault with force likely to produce great bodily injury (Pen. Code, § 245, subd. (a)(4)).

1 On March 19, 2025, defense counsel declared a doubt as to Stroh’s competency to stand trial.1 The court suspended proceedings and ordered a psychiatric evaluation of his competency. On May 2, 2025, the court found him incompetent to stand trial and subsequently ordered him committed to the Department of State Hospitals (DSH) for up to two years. On June 27, 2025, DSH filed a petition in Alameda County Superior Court for an order pursuant to Penal Code section 1370 (section 1370) to compel Stroh’s involuntary treatment with antipsychotic medication (petition). The DSH attached two exhibits to its petition: a June 23, 2025, 13-page certification report prepared pursuant to section 1370, subdivision (a)(2)(C) by Dr. Sarah J. Polfliet, which extensively reviews Stroh’s mental disorder, symptoms, and behaviors, including a history of delusions and violence, his denial of his mental disorder and need for…