Several Virginia sheriff's office deputies were charged with second-degree murder over the death of a 28-year-old man during the “intake process” at a state mental hospital last week.
Ivor Otieno was taken by Henrico County Sheriff's Office employee to Central State Hospital where he died while restrained on March 6.
Dinwiddie County Commonwealth's Attorney Ann Cabell Baskervill announced the charges but did not specify, however, Otieno's cause of death.
“Mr. Otieno's family was notified by my office this morning of these charges and I will continue to work with and for his family in relation to pursuing this case to its fullest extent,” the prosecutor added.
In an earlier statement, Henrico County Police said that Otieno, who was named as a suspect in a burglary case, was taken to the hospital for evaluation.
Once there, he “became physically assaultive toward officers, who arrested him” before being taken to a local prison and served with multiple offenses.
After that, deputies transported Otieno to the Central State Hospital where he became “combative during the admission process” and later died.
