An hour-long surveillance video released Friday depicts a deadly struggle between a resident and staffers at a Bakersfield group home.
The death of 27-year-old Joseph Adam Lynch July 9 at the Mountain View Ranch Residential Care home was ruled a homicide by the coroner. The cause of Lynch's death was determined to be positional asphyxiation. The Kern Sheriff's Department submitted a criminal case to the District Attorney's office, but prosecutors sent the case back for more investigation, Chief Deputy District Attorney Mark Pafford said Friday.
The video was released by attorney Matt Clark of the law firm Chain Cohn and Stiles. Clark represents the Lynch family in a wrongful death lawsuit filed against the group home, the staff members present that day, and the Kern Regional Center. The Kern Regional Center was tasked with monitoring and assessing the quality of care delivered, Clark said. Calls to the Regional Center and the Mountain View Ranch Residential Care home were not returned Friday.
Lynch suffered from Fragile X syndrome, a genetic condition that causes a range of developmental problems including learning disabilities and cognitive impairment, the National Institutes of Health reports. The condition also can lead to anxiety and hyperactive behavior such as fidgeting or impulsive actions, the NIH reports. Lynch had been in the group home for about two years, Clark said.
The video was shot from a security camera looking out across the kitchen and dining room of the group home. Copies of the video released to the media did not include audio and were broken into four clips. The altercation appeared to start after Lynch approached the manager of the group home and asked for a cigarette, Clark said. The two appeared to exchange words and Lynch punched the manager in the face. The manager appeared to tussle with Lynch briefly and the then wrestle Lynch into a corner of the dining the room.
Three other staff members rushed in to assist. Another client of the home appeared to also help in holding Lynch down. A few minutes later, Lynch is flipped by staff members onto his stomach in a prone position, something Clark said was particularly dangerous because Lynch was obese. The position, Clark said, makes it difficult if not impossible for people of Lynch's size to breathe.
At times it is hard to decipher what is happening in the video due to a table that obscures part of the view. But none of the staff members stopped to check Lynch's vital signs or attempt CPR, Clark said.
Deputies arrived approximately 15 minutes after the scuffle began and started to perform CPR. As deputies can be seen performing chest compressions on Lynch in the background, a staff member appeared to wash dishes in the kitchen. It's an action Clark characterized as extremely strange and callous. Hall Ambulance personnel arrived shortly thereafter and transported Lynch to the hospital where he later pronounced dead.
Clark did not deny Lynch landed the first blow, sparking the deadly scuffle. But he insisted the group home and its staff were tasked with managing violent outbursts and aggressive behavior brought on by Lynch's condition.
The Lynch family knew the video was to be released Friday but made the decision not to view it. The family felt the video would eventually become public due to the lawsuit and wanted to release the video on their terms, Clark said.
The death of 27-year-old Joseph Adam Lynch July 9 at the Mountain View Ranch Residential Care home was ruled a homicide by the coroner. The cause of Lynch's death was determined to be positional asphyxiation. The Kern Sheriff's Department submitted a criminal case to the District Attorney's office, but prosecutors sent the case back for more investigation, Chief Deputy District Attorney Mark Pafford said Friday.
The video was released by attorney Matt Clark of the law firm Chain Cohn and Stiles. Clark represents the Lynch family in a wrongful death lawsuit filed against the group home, the staff members present that day, and the Kern Regional Center. The Kern Regional Center was tasked with monitoring and assessing the quality of care delivered, Clark said. Calls to the Regional Center and the Mountain View Ranch Residential Care home were not returned Friday.
Lynch suffered from Fragile X syndrome, a genetic condition that causes a range of developmental problems including learning disabilities and cognitive impairment, the National Institutes of Health reports. The condition also can lead to anxiety and hyperactive behavior such as fidgeting or impulsive actions, the NIH reports. Lynch had been in the group home for about two years, Clark said.
The video was shot from a security camera looking out across the kitchen and dining room of the group home. Copies of the video released to the media did not include audio and were broken into four clips. The altercation appeared to start after Lynch approached the manager of the group home and asked for a cigarette, Clark said. The two appeared to exchange words and Lynch punched the manager in the face. The manager appeared to tussle with Lynch briefly and the then wrestle Lynch into a corner of the dining the room.
Three other staff members rushed in to assist. Another client of the home appeared to also help in holding Lynch down. A few minutes later, Lynch is flipped by staff members onto his stomach in a prone position, something Clark said was particularly dangerous because Lynch was obese. The position, Clark said, makes it difficult if not impossible for people of Lynch's size to breathe.
At times it is hard to decipher what is happening in the video due to a table that obscures part of the view. But none of the staff members stopped to check Lynch's vital signs or attempt CPR, Clark said.
Deputies arrived approximately 15 minutes after the scuffle began and started to perform CPR. As deputies can be seen performing chest compressions on Lynch in the background, a staff member appeared to wash dishes in the kitchen. It's an action Clark characterized as extremely strange and callous. Hall Ambulance personnel arrived shortly thereafter and transported Lynch to the hospital where he later pronounced dead.
Clark did not deny Lynch landed the first blow, sparking the deadly scuffle. But he insisted the group home and its staff were tasked with managing violent outbursts and aggressive behavior brought on by Lynch's condition.
The Lynch family knew the video was to be released Friday but made the decision not to view it. The family felt the video would eventually become public due to the lawsuit and wanted to release the video on their terms, Clark said.