Family of Man Who Died While Being Admitted to a Psychiatric Hospital Agrees to an $8.5 Million Settlement

The family of Irvo Otieno has reached a wrongful death settlement with Virginia, Henrico and the county’s sheriff, their attorneys announced Wednesday.

Otieno, a 28-year-old Black man, died in March after he was pinned down by seven Henrico sheriff’s deputies and three Central State Hospital workers while being admitted to the Dinwiddie County psychiatric hospital.

The state medical examiner’s office ruled Otieno’s death a homicide after concluding he died of “positional and mechanical asphyxia with restraints.” Ten people were initially charged in his death, but charges were eventually dropped against two hospital workers.

Read the source article at WRIC