Millcreek Behavioral Health / Habilitation Center, Inc.

Resident reported that she had a physical altercation with a staff member. Resident stated that she struck the staff member, and then the staff member hit her back with a closed fist. Afterward, the resident was placed in restraints. Several days later, she was placed in restraints a second time and was scratched.

Licensing Specialist (LS): Clayton DeBoer

5/30/24 – LS DeBoer visited the facility and reviewed video footage of the restraint on 5/22/24, which did not show staff doing anything harmful to the client.

Video was reviewed for the second restraint that occurred on 5/28/24. The alleged incident occurred in the client’s bedroom, which does not contain camera coverage. Various staff are seen in the hallway, entering and exiting the client’s room, including the alleged offending staff member. Incident reports for both incidents were reviewed.

This complaint has been UNFOUNDED by Licensing. As a precautionary measure, the alleged offending staff member will be retrained on restraint techniques.

Resident stated that he and a staff member were horseplaying. Resident stated that he snuck up behind staff and staff turned around quickly, causing the keys on her lanyard to swing out and cut him under his eye. Resident was sent to Dallas County Emergency Department for medical follow up. He was released to return to facility without restrictions.

Licensing Specialist: Clayton DeBoer

5/8/24 – Facility visited and camera footage reviewed. Camera footage shows staff member grabbing resident’s hair, punching him and throwing him to the floor.

Facility cited 109.1g and 907.2. Staff who participated in the incident and two staff present for the incident have all been terminated from employment at Millcreek.

Resident was having an on-campus visit with his mother on 4.13.24 and reported to his mother that a staff member called him a “faggot” and a “nigger”. Resident also stated that he was having an episode of physical aggression and that the staff member physically escorted him away from the situation and brought him to his room. The resident reports that when he arrived to his room, the staff member “threw him around.” The events allegedly happened on 4.12.2024. The mother reported these events to Millcreek staff and informed them that she would discharge the resident from the facility. She filed a police report with the Fordyce Police Department. Officers arrived on Campus and took statements from both the mother and the resident concerning the allegations. A Child Abuse Hotline report was made and accepted for investigation.

Licensing Specialist: Clayton DeBoer

Facility visited 4/15/24. Staff member was placed on administrative leave pending investigation. There is no video footage of this incident. There are no documented incidents (4/12/24) of this nature in the client’s file. Resident was discharged from Millcreek.

CACD investigation and licensing complaint determined to be unfounded.

On 3/19/24, client reported that a staff member hit him in the mouth and nose during an attempted elopement and physical restraint that occurred on 3/17/24. A report was made to the Arkansas Child Abuse Hotline (accepted).

Staff reported there is no video of alleged incident as it was reported to have occurred in a transit vehicle. Client attempted to elope but never made it off campus. Staff drove a facility vehicle to the edge of the road and located client, and client got in the transit vehicle where the incident allegedly occurred. Staff has been placed on administrative leave pending investigation.

Licensing Specialist: Clayton DeBoer.

3/20/24-Facility visited. Nursing note reviewed for 3/17 which does indicate that client had “abrasion to inner lip”. Facility investigation yields that alleged incident happened in transit vehicle, Shakaila Edwards driving, staff Mantrell Neal and the accused staff member riding.

The 2 staff that were also present in the transit vehicle reported that at no time did they see the accused staff member punch or hit the client. Staff Neal reported that client was restrained by the accused staff member while in the vehicle. Staff Neal did say that he saw the client spit blood, but at no time saw any staff do anything during the incident that would cause client to spit blood.

Client interviewed. Client stated that he was going to elope but stopped in the road and let staff catch him. Client stated that staff grabbed him by his hoodie with both hands and while restraining him (in transit vehicle), staff punched him “once in the nose and twice in the mouth”. When asked if any staff were present, client indicated that staff Shakaila and Mantrell were present. When asked if either of these staff saw the accused staff member hit him, client replied “I don’t know”. Client had no outwardly visible scarring or bruising on his face today but did show a healing cut on the inside of his lip.

CACD investigation was unsubstantiated. Licensing complaint unfounded.

Client was placed in a physical restraint following an extended period of verbal and physical aggression and property destruction. The restraint was initiated for safety after he directed his aggression toward staff members, pushing and biting them. On 3/9/24, client made the verbal statement that a staff member had choked him while initiating the physical restraint. The nurse’s notes following the restraint indicate scratches on the left side of the neck. A report was made to the Arkansas Child Abuse Hotline (accepted). The staff member was placed on administrative leave pending the investigation.

Licensing Specialist: Clayton DeBoer.

Facility reported there was no video of this incident. Witness statements reviewed.

Of note, a supervisor’s witness statement states “during the restraint at no time did I see staff [redacted] choke patient”. Witness statement continues to state that after the restraint was over, at no time did patient mention being choked. Nursing note from the day after, 3/9/24, states that client had abrasion like scratches to left side neck and base of throat and reported being choked during restraint. Client interviewed. Client stated that during the restraint, staff put his right hand around his neck, while client was lying on the ground face up. Client stated he heard another staff say “don’t choke him”. Client stated that after the restraint he did not mention being choked because of fear of retaliation from peers. Licensing attempted to contact the involved staff member by phone (no answer). Client did have a 3″ scratch to left side of neck during today’s visit.

CACD investigation was unsubstantiated. Licensing complaint unfounded.