Here are four things to know.
1. Jeremiah Flemming was a patient at Leesburg, Va.-based North Spring Behavioral Healthcare. He died Nov. 19, 2017, after William Herndon, a mental health technician at the facility, physically restrained him. The state medical examiner identified the cause of death as positional asphyxiation, and police charged Mr. Herndon with involuntary manslaughter in January.
2. Melanie Lewis, RN, a nurse at the facility, allegedly witnessed Mr. Flemming drop his head and emit what sounded like snoring about two minutes into the restraint, according to an internal facility report cited by the Post. Police arrested Ms. Lewis Thursday and charged her with involuntary manslaughter for failing “to intervene when the restraint was incorrectly administered,” police said in a statement Thursday, according to the Post.
3. Ms. Lewis is being held at a detention center in Leesburg on no bond, according to police. The Post could not confirm whether she had an attorney.
4. North Spring Behavioral Healthcare CEO David Winters declined the Post‘s request for comment on the charges and investigation. While he did not comment on Ms. Lewis’ employment status, he previously confirmed Mr. Herndon was placed on administrative leave following the incident.
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