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State worker arrested in group-home drowning

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Sep 30, 2011 at 8:39 am

CAMBRIDGE, Minn. (AP) - A state worker faces a manslaughter charge in the drowning of a severely disabled man at a group home bathtub in Isanti County.

Prosecutor Jeff Edblad says the worker was arrested Thursday. She was booked into jail and is scheduled to appear in court Friday.

The Star Tribune reports the woman is a supervisor at a state-operated group home in Braham. Authorities say she was bathing 56-year-old Gerald Hyska Aug. 28 and left him alone in the tub to take a phone call, resulting in his death.

In a statement , Minnesota Department of Human Services Commissioner Lucinda Jesson says the department is reviewing its policies and procedures.

Jesson says the employee is no longer with the department but could release no other information because of privacy laws.