Kalamazoo, MI — Cornelius Fredericks, a 16-year old boy from Michigan, died after having a cardiac arrest when he was restrained by at least 7 staff members at the residential treatment facility he was staying at. His family is filing a lawsuit requesting $100 million in damages.
Surveillance video and eyewitness accounts confirm that a staff member talked to Fredericks after that but he threw food again. Fredericks was then pushed to the ground before “six to seven male staff” went to him and restrained him.
Fredericks was allegedly restrained for about 12 minutes. It was only 10 minutes later when a Director of Nursing came to check the restraints and 12 minutes later when he was released.
He was taken to the hospital where he was later pronounced dead.
According to the lawsuit filed last Monday, Lakeside staff used an “improper restraint” on Fredericks, causing him to go into cardiac arrest and die.
The lawsuit also states he tested positive of COVID-19 in the hospital, but the facility was unaware of it and did not make efforts to test him. Several other residents and staff members were also diagnosed with COVID-19 after his death.
An investigation by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services regarding the incident is currently ongoing. All 125 Lakeside Academy residents were removed and transferred to other facilities as their license is at risk to be revoked.