Seven Sheriff’s Deputies Accused of Murdering Mentally Ill Black Man
Seven sheriff’s deputies in Virginia have been charged with murder after they allegedly smothered a young Black man in the midst of a mental health crisis last week, and then attempted to cover it up.
While the commonwealth has not yet released an official cause of death, the county prosecutor alleged on Wednesday morning that Irvo N. Otieno was being admitted to Central State Hospital by Henrico County Sheriff’s Office deputies when he was handcuffed and held down for 12 minutes on the floor, according to ABC 8 News.
Otieno died of asphyxiation, according to the Richmond Times-Dispatch.