Video Shows Improper Restraint That Led to Michigan Child’s Death [VIDEO]

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services has released two videos depicting an improper restraint that led to a youth's death at a residential treatment facility in West Michigan.

The video shows 16-year-old Cornelius Frederick throwing food while he was a resident at Lakeside for Children in Kalamazoo. The boy was then tackled by seven staff members who restrained him for 12 minutes. The boy died on May 1st, two days after the incident.

Attorney Geoffrey Fieger, who is representing the boy's family, tells the Detroit News that there is some footage that has been left out of the videos. The video has also been edited to hide the identity of the other youth visible in the footage.

Following the restraint, the boy is seen lying on the floor of the cafeteria for an undetermined length of time. It then jumps ahead to show a man performing chest compressions in an attempt to revive the boy.

MDHHS Director Robert Gordon called the incident outrageous and heartbreaking in a press release. The state has since terminated its contracts with Lakeside for Children and has begun the process of revoking the facility's license.

“The incident shown in the videos is outrageous and heartbreaking. We have vowed to do everything in our power to prevent a senseless tragedy like this from happening again,” Gordon said.

Frederick's family has filed a lawsuit against Lakeside's parent company, seeking $100 million for alleged negligence.