Nine employees from the state’s maximum security psychiatric hospital have been arrested in connection with a long-running investigation into patient abuse at the Whiting Forensic Division in Middletown, the NBC Connecticut Troubleshooters have learned.
A total of 31 employees at the Whiting Forensic Division have been put on administrative leave since the spring, as allegations and videotape of the alleged abuse emerged, showing a patient was spit at and kicked and a dirty diaper was placed on his head.
The nine employees were arrested on Tuesday with the following charges:
Carl Benjamin
DOB 02/17/1978
Resident of Hamden
Charges: 6 counts of cruelty to persons and 6 counts of disorderly conduct
Bond: $75,000 cash or surety
Mark Cusson
DOB 07/28/1968
Resident of Southington
Charges: 8 counts of cruelty to persons and 8 counts of disorderly conduct
Bond: $75,000 cash or surety
Gregory Giantonio
DOB 02/03/1974
Resident of Deep River
Charges: 3 counts of cruelty to persons and 3 counts of disorderly conduct
Bond: $75,000 cash or surety
Clayton Davis
DOB 05/10/1969
Resident of Hartford
Charges: 5 counts of cruelty to persons and 5 counts of disorderly conduct
Bond: $25,000 cash or surety
Investigations
Bruce Holt
DOB 06/12/1978
Resident of Columbia
Charges: 2 counts of cruelty to persons and 2 counts of disorderly conduct.
Bond: $25,000 Non-Surety
Robert Larned
DOB 11/12/1971
Resident of Hebron
Charges: 5 counts of cruelty to persons and 5 counts of disorderly conduct.
Bond: $25,000 Non-Surety
Willie Bethea
DOB 08/13/1972
Resident of Middletown
Charges: 2 counts of cruelty to persons and 2 counts of disorderly conduct.
Bond: $25,000 Cash/Surety
Seth Quider
DOB 01/24/1983
Resident of Enfield
Charges: 6 counts of cruelty to persons and 6 counts of disorderly conduct.
Bond: $75,000 Cash/Surety
Lance Camby
DOB 08/12/1969
Resident of New Britain
Charges: 5 counts of cruelty to persons and 5 counts of disorderly conduct.
Bond: $75,000
The state Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services released a statement to NBC Connecticut on Tuesday afternoon.
"DMHAS is appreciative of the efforts of the Connecticut State Police and the State's Attorney Office related to the criminal investigation into allegations of patient abuse. The Department has cooperated fully with this investigation. DMHAS would like to reiterate that the agency finds the nature of the abuse described in the allegations reprehensible. The arrests reinforce that this type of behavior will not be tolerated within our service system. We continue to work to identify more ways to improve patient care and safety and will do whatever is necessary to prevent future incidents. We remain committed to our vision of providing high-quality behavioral health care that is compassionate, genuine and professional." the statement reads.
NBC Connecticut chief investigative reporter Len Besthoff broke the story about the alleged abuse in April.
