Three employees at a Virginia state mental hospital have been charged over the death of a man who was handcuffed and pinned down by deputies, bringing the total number charged to 10, prosecutors said.
he Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office for Dinwiddie County said the employees at Central State Hospital have been charged with second-degree murder, like the seven sheriff’s office employees previously charged.
The three latest to be charged were arrested yesterday and are being held in jail.
Dinwiddie County Commonwealth’s attorney Ann Cabell Baskervill has said in court that security camera footage from the state mental hospital shows the man who was handcuffed and shackled being pinned down by the deputies, who are now facing second-degree murder charges over his death.
Ms Baskervill said during the seven deputies’ first court hearing on Wednesday that Irvo Otieno was smothered to death.
The officers had no justification for putting Mr Otieno, who was being checked in, on the floor, Ms Baskervill said.
The prosecutor said Mr Otieno did not appear combative and was sitting in a chair before being pulled to the floor by the officers, the Richmond Times-Dispatch reported.
It was a “demonstration of power that was unlawful”, the prosecutor said.
Mr Otieno, a 28-year-old from Henrico County, had a history of mental health struggles and was experiencing mental distress at the time of his initial encounter with law enforcement earlier this month, according to statements from his family and one of their attorneys.
He died on March 6 as he was being admitted to the hospital, south of Richmond.
Mr Otieno’s family was expected to view video of the events that preceded his death, according to a news release from his attorneys.