Photo: GoFundMe
The family of Irvo Otieno, a 28-year-old Black man who was smothered to death by deputies and workers at a mental hospital earlier this year, has reached a settlement with the Virginia, Henrico County, and the sheriff.
On Wednesday (September 20), attorneys announced that all parties had agreed to pay $8.5 million to Otieno's family, per ABC8.
“The family is pleased that they were able to find a resolution outside of court in a manner that honors Irvo’s life,” attorneys Ben Crump and Mark Krudys said in a statement.
The state of Virginia, Henrico, and the county’s sheriff didn't admit any liability in his March death.
According to police, Otieno was initially arrested on suspicion of burglary and assaulting a law enforcement officer. Officers took Otieno to a local jail managed by the Henrico County Sheriff’s Office and placed him under an “emergency custody order,” which is used in Virginia for cases of mental illness.
Days later, Henrico County sheriff’s office employees were transferring him to Central State Hospital when state police were called to investigate his death.
In a video obtained by multiple outlets, several officers can be seen dragging Otieno into an admission room at Virginia's Central State Hospital in handcuffs and leg irons. While restraining Otieno, officers and medical staff piled on top of him for around 11 minutes before his body went limp.
Seven Henrico County sheriff's deputies and three hospital workers were initially charged with second-degree murder in Otieno's death. Charges were later dropped against two hospital workers.
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