Three arraigned in restraint death of Black teen in Michigan

KALAMAZOO, Mich. — Three former Michigan youth centre staff members charged in the death of a Black teenager who was restrained after throwing a sandwich have been arraigned.

Michael Mosley of Battle Creek and Heather McLogan of Kalamazoo turned themselves in Wednesday to authorities and appeared in Kalamazoo County District Court on involuntary manslaughter and second-degree child abuse charges.

A third former employee of Lakeside Academy in Kalamazoo, Zachary Solis of Lansing, was arraigned Tuesday after turning himself in.

They were charged last week in the May 1 death of 16-year-old Cornelius Fredericks.

Authorities have said Fredericks went into cardiac arrest April 29 while being restrained. He was hospitalized but died two days later. His manner and cause of death was listed as a homicide.

A doctor who performed the autopsy, said Fredericks had been restrained on the ground, resulting in asphyxia.

Mosley, 47, and Solis, 28, are accused of restraining Fredericks in a “grossly negligent manner,” Kalamazoo County Prosecutor Jeff Getting said last week while announcing the charges.

McLogan, 48, is accused of gross negligence for allegedly failing to seek medical care for the teen in a timely manner.

Each was released on bond pending probable cause conferences later this month.

“She has no prior criminal history whatsoever,” defence attorney Anastase Markou said of his client, McLogan, during her arraignment.

Solis was “overcharged” and only doing what he was told to do by his superiors, his attorney Donald Sappanos told MLive.com Tuesday.

Attorney Kiana Garrity, who represents Mosley, told MLive.com in a statement that Mosley was following Lakeside Academy protocol.

A civil lawsuit has been filed against Lakeside Academy and Sequel Youth and Family Services by Fredericks’ estate.

Lakeside Academy, a facility for teenagers with behavioural problems, last month lost its contract with the state of Michigan to care for youth in the state’s foster care and juvenile justice systems and its license to operate.

The Associated Press