DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The director of the Iowa Department of Human Services has sought help from state criminal investigators to look into allegations of possible human experiments focused on sexual arousal and other issues at the Glenwood Resource Center, a state institution for developmentally disabled people.
DHS spokesman Matt Highland said Tuesday that the agency’s director asked the Iowa Department of Public Safety for help.
Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation Assistant Director Mitch Mortvedt said the agency was at the facility Monday and “initially assisted but have turned everything back over to DHS.” State public safety officers likely won’t be further involved, he said.
DHS learned last month that the U.S. Department of Justice civil rights division is investigating with federal prosecutors from Des Moines whether the state is violating the federal rights of Glenwood residents by placing them at risk with uncontrolled human subject experiments and whether there have been harmful restraint practices or incidents causing needless injury.
The DHS will continue to be transparent and provide updates on the investigation, Highland said. The agency is planning a town hall meeting to hear from families of patients.
