An $8.5 million settlement has been reached in a civil lawsuit involving the tragic death of a 28-year-old man who passed away after being pinned down by deputies and hospital staff in Virginia during a mental health crisis.
In a Virginia Circuit Court, a judge has given the green light to the settlement between the family of Irvo Otieno and the County of Henrico, the Commonwealth of Virginia, and the Henrico County Sheriff, as announced by the family's legal representatives in a press release.
The family expressed their satisfaction in resolving the matter outside the courtroom while honoring Irvo's memory.
However, it's important to note that the state, county, and sheriff did not admit liability in the unfortunate incident, according to The Associated Press.
Representatives from the offices of the Commonwealth’s Attorney and the sheriff have not yet provided comments, and Attorney General Jason Miyares' agency also refrained from commenting on the matter.
In response, Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin's spokesperson, Macaulay Porter, acknowledged the profound tragedy of Otieno's passing. The Governor played a proactive role in pursuing this settlement, hoping that it could, in some small way, alleviate the suffering experienced by Irvo's mother and brother.
It's clear that no settlement can replace the loss of a loved one. Governor Youngkin is committed to transforming the behavioral health system to ensure timely and appropriate care for individuals in crisis.
The incident in question was captured on video and depicts a group of deputies escorting Otieno, who was in ankle restraints and handcuffs, into a room at Central State Hospital in Virginia on March 6.
Hospital staff joined the deputies in restraining him, and at one point, Otieno is seen lying motionless on the floor, surrounded by nine deputies and several hospital workers. Despite efforts to administer CPR, Otieno's life could not be saved.
The Virginia Office of the Chief Medical Examiner determined that asphyxia was the cause of death, and it was classified as a homicide.
Ten defendants faced second-degree murder charges as a result of the incident, while charges against two hospital employees were dropped. Some attorneys for the defendants claimed they would vigorously defend their clients, asserting that Otieno had been combative, as reported by the AP.
Otieno's family revealed on a fundraising page that he was experiencing a mental health breakdown, was not resisting, and was in handcuffs and leg shackles when he tragically lost his life on March 6, 2023, at the hands of Henrico County Deputy sheriffs.
The heart-wrenching video deeply affected Otieno's mother, Caroline Ouko, who described it as disturbing and traumatic. She emphasized that her son had been tortured during the incident, speaking alongside civil rights attorney Benjamin Crump at a news conference.
Crump highlighted the video as a stark example of the inhumane treatment that individuals in mental health crises often endure from law enforcement. He pointed out that Otieno had not displayed aggression toward the deputies or hospital staff, stressing the unnecessary and unjustifiable nature of the restraint he faced.
In another development, a woman in Los Angeles recently fell victim to a robbery, losing approximately $100,000 in the process. See detailed story here
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