DCFS Closely Monitoring Allendale Association Following Asphyxiation Death of Teen

Photo caption: James Davis (left) and Justin J. Serak (right)

LAKE VILLA, IL - The state's Department of Children and Family Services has stepped up its monitoring of a residential facility for troubled youth in Lake Villa as authorities continue to investigate the asphyxiation death of 16-year-old Shaquan Allen.

DCFS is now making daily stops to the Allendale Association residential facility to check, the Chicago Tribune reports. And, a team from the University of Illinois at Chicago's psychiatry department has been called in to review Allendale's protocols and procedures. State child welfare officials have also stopped placing youths at the facility.

The new measures come following Allen's death last week. An employee at Allendale is accused of putting Allen in a chokehold while trying to restrain the teen -- a resident at the facility. The employee, James Davis, 37, of Round Lake, has been charged with manslaughter.

>>> Police Investigating Death of Juvenile Found on Allendale Association Property

Davis and a fellow employee, Justin J. Serak, 27, of Kenosha, Wis., are also charged with obstructing justice for making up a false story and telling police Davis slipped on water when questioned about the teen's death.

>>> Two Allendale Association Employees Charged in Death of Teen

Allendale and DCFS prohibit the use of chokeholds when trying to restrain youths, according to the Daily Herald. DCFS spokeswoman Veronica Resa told the newspaper that DCFS is working with police and other officials as an investigation continues into Allen's death. She said there is no reason to believe at this point that anything "out of the ordinary" is happening at Allendale.

"We are trying to get to the bottom of this incident," Resa told the Daily Herald. "It's very important to find out what happened and why."

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