Investigators will review death of girl, 7

June 2, 2006

Investigators planned to meet with the Barron County district attorney and a Hennepin County, Minn., medical examiner next week to review how a 7-year-old counseling center patient died after being restrained by staff members.

Angellika Arndt, a resident of Rusk County, died Friday at Children's Hospital & Clinics of Minnesota in Minneapolis.

Angellika was a patient at Northwest Counseling and Guidance Clinic in Rice Lake and was being held by staff members for behavioral issues, police said.

"She was just unresponsive during the hold. We don't know if she passed out or what," said Christopher Fitzgerald, a Rice Lake police investigator.

Denison Tucker, president of the Rice Lake clinic's board of directors, said an internal review found that the staff, which is trained and licensed, followed proper procedures for the hold.

He couldn't comment specifically on the girl's situation but said the hold is used only if a child is in danger of harming him or herself or another person.

The girl had calmed down, was released and later passed out, he said.

The state Department of Health and Family Services was also investigating and expects to be finished by Friday, police said.