U.S. News
Deputies face murder charges in the death of Black man at state mental hospital [Video]
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW!
- A Black Virginia man, Irvo Otieno, was pinned to the ground by deputies who are now facing second-degree murder charges in his death.
- Otieno’s family and attorneys viewed the footage and condemned the brutal treatment and called for the U.S. Department of Justice to intervene.
- Ten people have been charged with second-degree murder in Otieno’s death, including seven Henrico County Sheriff’s deputies and three hospital employees.
Irvo Otieno, a 28-year-old Black man, died on March 6 during the admission process at Central State Hospital south of Richmond. His family and attorneys viewed a video from the state mental hospital that shows Otieno being pinned to the ground by deputies who are now facing second-degree murder charges in his death.
The family and attorneys condemned the brutal treatment and called for the U.S. Department of Justice to intervene, saying Otieno’s constitutional rights were violated.
According to Dinwiddie County Commonwealth’s Attorney Ann Cabell Baskervill, who described the video in court on Wednesday, all seven deputies facing charges pushed down on Otieno, who was in handcuffs and leg irons.
Baskervill said Otieno did not appear combative and was sitting in a chair before being pulled to the ground by the officers. “It was a demonstration of power that was unlawful,” she said.
Ten people have been charged with second-degree murder in Otieno’s death. The seven Henrico County Sheriff’s deputies were charged on Tuesday and additional charges were announced on Thursday against three people who were employed by the hospital.
Darian M. Blackwell, 23, of Petersburg; Wavie L. Jones, 34, of Chesterfield; and Sadarius D. Williams, 27, of North Dinwiddie were being held without bond, and it wasn’t immediately clear if they had attorneys who could speak on their behalf. Additional charges and arrests are also pending, Baskervill said.
Otieno 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, his family and their attorneys said.
That set off a chain of events that led to him spending several days in law enforcement custody before authorities say he died as he was being admitted to the state hospital.
Otieno was pepper sprayed and subjected to further brutality while he was in jail. His family attorneys said he was denied access to needed medications.
Source: apnews.com
BYEdenIsIncompetent
March 18, 2023 at 6:44 pm
Another FRAUD witch hunt 🖕🏻😡🖕🏻😡😡😡
Charles Richard Scott
March 19, 2023 at 7:07 am
This is a totally one sided report. The report totally condemns the deputies and those that were helping them. The picture painted is that of an innocent man sitting on a chair in leg irons and then wrenched out of the chair and brutally assaulted by about ten men. The attack on this innocent man leads to his death. There is no other side to this story which has already condemned these men. Racial hatred is being promoted, and white people are portrayed as demons without concrete proof.
Don
March 19, 2023 at 9:01 am
Exactly…..and the charges are by some incompetent DA who’s proving his idiocy. All officers in the area need to go on strike and let the dufus handle problems.
Mark
March 18, 2023 at 7:17 pm
These sites NEVER give facts. “What were his mental health problems ? Why was he cuffed and in leg irons ? History of , duh, VIOLENCE ?! Drugs involved ? And why in the world would 7 cops “ pull him down to the ground?” If he was ‘ sitting calmly in a chair.???? IF he was combative why didn’t the hospital SEDATE his butt !!!! Terrible news writer.
Don
March 19, 2023 at 8:58 am
My questions too and the writer gives zero info on it. he wasn’t cuffed for no reason.
RobertC
March 18, 2023 at 7:27 pm
Before making this a story about racism, it would be interesting to find out how many of the deputies and hospital staff were also black. This appears to be more of a story about police brutality. Every one of these cases needs to be brought to light, but it should be done without the race baiting headlines seen here. Unfortunately, the media is never happy unless they can stir up as much social unrest as possible, even if it’s for the wrong reasons. To illustrate my point, does the following variation of this story’s headline sound like something we’d ever see: “Deputies face murder charges in the death of White man at state mental hospital”. Of course not. Even though the circumstances would still clearly illustrate criminal action by the police, there would be no racial angle to prod people into further outrage. The media should be held accountable for their obvious biases, but it’s highly unlikely that will ever happen.
dant
March 18, 2023 at 7:43 pm
once again not all the facts are in perhaps he had a record of being violent or combative theres always two sides to a story why wasnt he being treated in the hospital if he was a threat to himself or others, why wasnt the parents on hand to make sure he was on his meds, did he have alcohol in his system to cause such a reaction for the officers to restrain him, did he have other drugs in his system not precribed? based on the color of his skin and his death lawyers are quick to push the envelope for civil damages,without as much a fair and just hearing what ever happen to innocent till proven guilty again is it based on the skin color, drug use or neglect of supervision sedation might have compromise the situration overdose etc. wait till all facts are in before passing judgment
John minyard
March 18, 2023 at 10:14 pm
I have just one question! Why did it take 7 cops to pin a man in cuffs an leg chains, was that guy that tough an mean or do we have 7 men who are weaker than a woman or so afraid of getting their asses kicked, I’d love to take the 7 pigs on if they want to take their guns an badges off an try to be a man, but they will hide like a bunch of sissies!
Paul E.
March 19, 2023 at 6:53 am
Anybody can talk tough and unless you’re Bruce Lee, I seriously doubt if you could take on ten people at once and come out the winner.
Colby Goodson
March 19, 2023 at 7:34 am
Its not a fight or competition idiot. Its providing safety to other cops and innocent bystanders. he was deemed a threat and needed to be controlled.
Sean Rickman
March 18, 2023 at 10:56 pm
If this guy was white the blacks and democRATS would be cheering.
Paul E.
March 19, 2023 at 7:04 am
The article makes sure to let you know the “victim” was a black man. Where are the races of the deputies and the hospital staff? What few names they did give out sure don’t sound like they were a bunch of bleached individuals.