Top News

• Jun 6, 2006 12:54 am US/Central
• Digg | Facebook | E-mail

  Close WindowE-mail This Page

  Officials Looking Into 7-Year-Old Girl's Death

  Required fields are marked with an asterisk(*)

  ---

  • Recipient E-mail:* 
  • • Your Name:* 
    • Your E-mail:* 
  • Add a Message:
  •   Send me a copy of this e-mail.

  • Type the characters in this picture:* Click here to refresh with new letters

  ---

  The information you provide will be used only to send the requested e-mail and will not be used to send any other e-mail communications. Read more in our Privacy Policy

  Send E-mail

  | Print

Officials Looking Into 7-Year-Old Girl's Death

Rice Lake, Wis. (WCCO) ― Angie Arndt loved food and dolls. Her obituary said she was known for her smile. She was only 7 years old.

"This is as tragic and it gets, I think," said Denison Tucker, the president of the Northwest Counseling and Guidance Clinic in Rice Lake.

Arndt had been a day patient there for about a month. It's described as a place for people with mental illnesses so disabling, they can't function in normal society.

Last Thursday, Tucker said Arndt was "acting out" in the clinic's kitchen. Two staff members restrained her by holding her arms and shoulders. It's standard policy for two people to be involved in a controlled hold.

Ardnt was then moved to a "safe" room next door, where she restrained in the floor.
Tucker said this wasn't the first time she had to be restrained.

According to witnesses, Angie would calm down, but then get worked up again. After about 40 minutes, she finally settled down. That's when counselors say they released her.

She laid face down on the floor. Within five minutes, she'd stopped breathing.

Counselors can only restrain patients if they are a danger to themselves or the people around them. An internal investigation revealed the staff members thought Angie was going to hurt herself.

Tucker believes his staff did not do anything to contribute to Angie's death.

"They conformed to the policies, and procedures and training and standards that we have," he said.

The type of restraint used is called a controlled hold. It is apparently a common practice in mental health facilities that requires training to learn.

Staff members stand on both sides of the patient, one hand on the arm and the other on the shoulder.

"It's not like an aggressive thing," said Tucker, "they'd be talking to you and saying you need to calm down."

According to Tucker, the two staff members had years of experience. They were put on administrative leave, a standard practice.

An autopsy is expected to reveal the cause of death next week. The Barron County district attorney will meet with the medical examiner and police next Thursday to decide if anyone should face charges.

(© MMVI, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)