Re: Praxis Death

Troy Warner <twarner@sjcpd.org>

Thu 7/13/2023 1:45 PM
To:Chaudhary, Jay <Jay.Chaudhary@fssa.IN.gov>
Cc:Peter Agostino <agostino@aaklaw.com>;Carl H. Baxmeyer
<CBaxmeyer@sjcindiana.com>;Derek D. Dieter <ddieter@sjcindiana.com>;William Redman
<wredman@sjcpd.org>;misch@aaklaw.com <misch@aaklaw.com>;Snyder, Randall
<RSnyder1@health.in.gov>;Buroker, Brenda <Bburoker@health.in.gov>

3 attachments (257 KB)

Praxis Cases Summary 2022.pdf; Praxis Cases Summary Jan to Jun 20 2023.pdf; Police Dispatches Aug 2022 to July
2023.pdf;

Mr. Chaudhary:

I am with St. Joseph County Sheriff Bill Redman's Office and write on behalf of Sheriff and
our County Police Department. Please consider this a formal complaint and request to revoke
the license of the Praxis Landmark on Bodnar Blvd in Mishawaka. 

Praxis Landmark opened in August 2022. There was anticipation and excitement for an
additional addiction treatment option here in our community. The issues at the facility began
very quickly. We began and have continued to be patient, wanting those that need help with
addiction to be able to get that help. However, after 11 months of being supportive and patient,
we have seen little to no improvement in the operational safety of Praxis. The facility is a large
drain on our County first responder resources and is harmful to its patients and our
community. 

We made many many attempts to provide Praxis management an opportunity to improve and
fix its issues. The facility has had 4 different directors in its 11 months of operation. Through
2022 and 2023 our supervisors and mental health liaisons met with each of the different Praxis
directors either weekly or every other week to voice our concerns and work with them to find
solutions. Sheriff Redman and our administration team have twice met with corporate
management here at our offices. The situation at Praxis occasionally improves for a week or
two, but then always worsens. 

In our opinion, facility is vastly understaffed, under secured, and the facility is dangerous.
Praxis typically have 125-160 patients and less than 15 staff. Praxis has zero security
measures, no one coming or going is checked for drugs or weapons. Our police department has
been their security measure when things get out of hand. However, whenever we are called out
staff routinely interfere and restrict the ability of our officers and detectives to complete any
investigations, prohibiting officers from talking with victims and witnesses. They have also
refused to provide any security video of a stabbing, reported rapes and even now these
overdose deaths. The interference with our officers is so direct and intentional that most of our
officers &detectives suspect that employees are involved in drug trafficking at the facility.
Since opening we have received safety concerns and complaints from employees, patients and
their family members. We can no longer be patient asking and waiting for improvement.
I have included a summary of all the police calls and incidents reported at the facility since
August 2022. This does not include Fire/Medical ONLY dispatches which are about equal to
Police dispatches. This also does not include two overdose deaths on July 3rd and 4th, a
second additional overdose survivor on July 4th and the death being preliminarily ruled a
suicide on July 9th and a new additional overdose just this morning.     

In the 192 days of 2023 there has been 217 calls for Police and Fire, 111 of those for County
Police. Of these 111 calls, County Police in just 2023 have documented 26 reported incidents
including, now 7 overdoses this year, 2 rapes, a sexual assault, and an aggravated battery
(stabbing). These are the incidents that we are aware of, there are reports that staff will not let
patients call police and prohibit and discourage reporting.
All total since the facility opened 11 months ago there have been 9 overdoses which fire &
police have been called out, including the overdose deaths of July 4th, July 3rd last week and a
previous overdose death on November 9, 2022.

Sheriff Redman would be happy to discuss the last 11 months of Praxis and all of this more in-
depth with you or anyone in your department. We ask for any assistance that the state is able to
provide. 

Our county also has a nuisance property ordinance, the facility has been in violation of that
ordinance since opening. Sheriff Redman will be asking the County Commissioners and the
County Attorney to pursue the enforcement of the ordinance and the closure of the facility via
the criminal nuisance ordinance. 

Best,
Troy
 
Troy D. Warner
St. Joseph Co. Police Dept.
Dept. Attorney
Public Information Liaison
401 W. Sample St.
South Bend, IN. 46601
Desk 574.245.6507
Mobile 574.340.3673
 
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From: Snyder, Randall <RSnyder1@health.in.gov>
Sent: Wednesday, July 12, 2023 7:51 AM
To: Buroker, Brenda <Bburoker@health.in.gov>; misch@aaklaw.com <misch@aaklaw.com>;
Chaudhary, Jay <Jay.Chaudhary@fssa.IN.gov>
Cc: Peter Agostino <agostino@aaklaw.com>; Troy Warner <twarner@sjcpd.org>; Carl H. Baxmeyer
<CBaxmeyer@sjcindiana.com>; Derek D. Dieter <ddieter@sjcindiana.com>
Subject: RE: Praxis Death
 
Good morning Mr. Misch,
 
The Indiana Department of Health does not license or regulate this type of provider.
However, many of the addiction treatment providers are under the authority of the Division of Mental
Health and Addiction.
The website for DMHA can be found at: https://www.in.gov/fssa/dmha/ and is under the direction of
Jay Chaudhary. I included Mr. Chaudhary on this response so you have his contact information and he
can see the history of your concern.
If questions remain or additional information is needed from the Acute and Continuing Care Division,
please let me know.
 
 
Regards,
 
 
Randy Snyder, PT, MBA  |  Division Director Acute and Continuing Care Services 
Consumer Services and Health Care Regulation
office: 317-233-1286  •  mobile: 317-508-1835  •  fax: 317-233-7157
Rsnyder1@health.in.gov

health.in.gov

       

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