State puts restrictions on use of control holds at Rice Lake clinic

Jun 25, 2006

The counseling center involved in the suffocation death of a seven-year-old patient can no longer use control holds on patients unless the situation is so dangerous police must be called.

A spokeswoman for the state Department of Health and Family Services today says the agency gave the order to Northwest Counseling and Guidance Clinic in Rice Lake late last week.

Stephanie Marquis says the directive essentially bans the use of control holds at the facility, at least for now.

In another development, prosecutors are deciding whether to file charges in the death.

Barron County District Attorney Angela Holmstrom says seven-year-old Angellika Arndt died from a lack of air caused by complications from chest compressions. She died May 26th at Children's Hospital in Minneapolis, a day after she passed out at the Rice Lake counseling center.

Arndt was a patient and was being restrained by staff members because of her behavior.

Holmstrom says the manner of death makes it a homicide -- which is causing the death of another person. But, she says it's not yet clear whether it rises to the criminal definition of homicide.