Irvo Otieno needed help during a mental health crisis

On March 6, Irvo Otieno was transferred from the Henrico County Jail to Central State Hospital, a state mental health hospital, to undergo treatment. Unfortunately, Irvo would not leave the hospital alive.

Newly obtained Central State Hospital surveillance footage revealed 7 Henrico County Sheriff’s deputies and 3 hospital workers dragged the 28-year-old, restrained in handcuffs and leg irons, into an admissions room and piled on top of him on the ground, smothering him to death for 11 minutes.

While the 10 deputies and hospital staff responsible for Irvo’s death have been arrested and indicted on second-degree murder charges, how can we believe these officers being charged will prevent other law enforcement – tasked with helping in one’s time of crisis – from injuring other innocent individuals with mental illness?

Irvo is not the first and likely will not be the last person suffering from mental illness to be brutally victimized by police.

We have all borne witness to the deadly result of law enforcement officers unprepared to handle mental health crises – 19-year-old Chinese American teenager Christian Hall was shot and killed by Pennsylvania State Police after he called 911 for help with his mental health emergency.

Instead of police responding with the compassion and medical care he needed, he received bullets. Similarly to Christian Hall, Irvo Otieno did not deserve to have his life ended so ferociously in his time of need.

While we all know mental illness should not be a death sentence, law enforcement seemingly needs to be reminded of this as well!

Demanding better police training and treatment for individuals suffering from mental illness could potentially save a life in the future! No other family should have to grieve a similar agonizing death of their loved one as Irvo Otieno’s family is now.

Sign our petition today to urge law enforcement agencies and departments to enact more mental health training.