Arizona Teen Dies at Treatment Center

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (AP) _ Authorities are investigating the death of an Arizona teenager whose heart stopped during a struggle with staff members at a nonprofit center for troubled youths.

Orlena Parker, 15, went into cardiac arrest Monday while being restrained by seven employees of the Devereux Cleo Wallace Center, where she had been a patient since 2001, police Lt. Skip Arms said.

He said the girl, described as 5-feet-8 inches tall and about 270 pounds, had charged a staff member.

The cause of death had not yet been determined, he said.

Parker’s hometown wasn’t released because of patient confidentiality rules.

Police said she was in the custody of the Arizona Department of Health Services, but department spokesman Mike Murphy said only that she was under the care of Valueoptions, a contractor that provides behavioral health services in Maricopa County.

The Phoenix-based company had staff members at the center investigating the death, spokeswoman Malena Albo said.