Irvo Otieno.Photo: FaceBook
Seven members of the Henrico County Sheriff’s Office in Virginia have been charged with second-degree murder for the death of a 28-year-old man at a state mental health hospital last week.
The charges come in connection to the death of Irvo Noel Otieno, who died on March 6.
Otieno was transported from jail in Henrico to Central State Hospital, a state-run psychiatric facility in Dinwiddie County, per the outlet.
Dinwiddie County Commonwealth’s Attorney Ann Cabell Baskervill shared with the outlet that Otieno was thenphysically restrained with handcuffs and leg shacklesand died during the intake process on March 6.
She described their actions as “cruel treatment” toward Otieno, the outlet said.
The Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.
The deputies involved in the transfer, explains WRIC, werearrested after voluntarily turning themselves inon Tuesday.
Meherrin River Regional Jail
They include Randy Joseph Boyer, 57; Dwayne Alan Bramble, 37; Jermaine Lavar Branch, 45; Bradley Thomas Disse, 43; Tabitha Renee Levere, 50; Brandon Edwards Rodgers, 48, and Kaiyell Dajour Sanders, 30.
In a statement to PEOPLE on Thursday, Edward K. Nickel, said his client Disse is a 20-year veteran with the Henrico County Sheriff’s Office who “has served honorably.”
“He is looking forward to his opportunity to try this case and for the full truth to be shared in court and ultimately vindicated,” Nickel said.
Attorneys for Sanders and Bramble did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment on Wednesday night.
It’s unclear if Boyer, Branch, Levere and Rodgers have an attorney who can comment on their behalf.
The deputies arescheduled to appear before a grand juryon March 21, according to ABC News.
In response to the charges, Henrico County Sheriff Alisa A. Gregoryreleased a statementstating that their office was fully cooperating with the investigation.
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“The seven deputies who were transferring custody of Mr. Otieno have been placed on administrative leave, pending the outcome of the Commonwealth’s cases. As an office, we are cooperating fully with the investigation of the Virginia State Police. Separately, we are conducting our own independent review of this incident.”
source: people.com
