Patient chokes staffer in Chester

A Chester Mental Health Center security therapy aide, Geoff Forsting, was nearly choked to death by a patient in an incident that occurred Tuesday morning at the maximum-security facility.

"What we know is a patient that has been housed at Chester Mental Health was transferred from other mental health facilities due to aggressive behavior," said Ty Peterson, staff representative for American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Council 31.

"Real recently, the patient's medication has been reduced. Since that time, he has attacked other patients and now attacked a security therapist."

Forsting said the situation started around 8:40 a.m.

Forsting said the patient allegedly involved in the assault is a known repeat offender who had recently assaulted a fellow patient and had been transferred to CMHC, which is the state's only maximum-security mental health facility. Due to confidentiality laws, the patient has not been identified.

The patient, whom Forsting described as 6 feet tall and around 210 pounds, allegedly then came forward and struck Forsting on the left side of his face around the cheek area.

"I went down to cover up and back away and he grabbed me around the head and put me in a chokehold," Forsting said. "We fell to the floor and my head hit the ground as he continued to choke me.

Forsting said he believes he lost consciousness at one point.

Wednesday morning, Chester Police Chief Ryan Coffey said his agency had not received a report of the incident from CMHC.

Peterson praised the staff members' quick response to the situation.

"If it wasn't for the immediate response of other security therapists, this situation could have ended up much worse than it was and could have ended up being fatal," Peterson said.</group>