Virginia Psychiatric Worker Accused of Dragging Boy by Neck in Shocking Footage
Disturbing surveillance footage has emerged showing a psychiatric worker in Virginia allegedly dragging a young boy by a shirt wrapped around his neck, followed by accusations of evidence tampering. Michelle Yates and her former employer, the Grafton school in Berryville, face a civil lawsuit brought on behalf of a 13-year-old boy, alleging physical abuse and destruction of surveillance evidence.
Court Proceedings and Evidence
According to the Winchester Gazette, Yates and Grafton are expected to appear in the Winchester Circuit Court, where the footage is anticipated to be a central piece of evidence in the trial. The lawsuit claims that the aftermath of the incident was captured on tape but was destroyed by the facility, raising serious concerns about institutional conduct.
Detailed Account of the Incident
The footage from one of Grafton's surveillance cameras depicts two psychiatric workers attending to residents, including the teenage boy. Yates, wearing a red Christmas sweater and a face covering, is seen standing next to the boy before he begins grabbing at her legs with both hands. In front of other residents and her colleague, she aggressively grabs the child by his shirt and drags him several feet across the room.
As Yates adjusts her grip, the boy's blue shirt wraps around his neck while he continues to cling to her legs. In another pull, his arms go limp after she lugs him further by the shirt around his neck. The boy lies motionless briefly before lunging towards Yates' legs again. She eventually grabs his arm as her coworker opens a door behind her, drags the child inside, and shuts the door between them.
Legal and Institutional Responses
Attorney Gray Broughton, representing the plaintiff, stated to The Winchester Gazette, 'Families place their children in facilities like Grafton expecting their safety to be protected. This case raises serious questions about staff conduct and how the facility responded after the incident.' The filing alleges that Yates and Grafton caused physical harm, institutional failures in supervision, and failed to preserve evidence.
Grafton’s Berryville facility describes itself as a secure center providing children and adolescents with skills for community success. When contacted for comment, Grafton’s marketing and communications team said the organization does not comment on matters in litigation. The Daily Mail has also reached out to Grafton’s Berryville facility for further comment.
