A Northwest Arkansas man says he went to a behavioral health unit seeking help after a panic attack but left feeling worse and is now speaking out after four defendants in a federal case tied to a Northwest Medical Center behavioral health unit pleaded not guilty this week. He is now part of a civil class action lawsuit against former psychiatrist Brian Hyatt.Grant Lancelot, a Springdale native and small business owner, said he admitted himself to a behavioral health unit several years ago after experiencing what he described as a panic attack. “I went in for something, looking for some help,” Lancelot said. “I ended up staying there for several days and came out a little more confused than when I went in.”Lancelot is among those following a federal case involving eight defendants accused of conspiring to unlawfully detain patients at Northwest Medical Center’s Behavioral Health Unit. Four defendants, Brian Hyatt, Robert Green, Georgette Rice and Collyn Harlan, pleaded not guilty in federal court this week. The remaining defendants, Devon Talbert, Lindsey Hess, Miranda Newburn and Owen Benjamin, are scheduled to make their initial court appearances.All eight defendants face a charge of conspiracy to commit kidnapping, which carries a possible sentence of up to life in prison. Hyatt and Talbert also face an additional charge related to the unlawful distribution of controlled substances.Three of the defendants have been released on pretrial conditions, while Hyatt remains in custody pending a detention hearing on April 7. A jury trial is scheduled for June 9, with a pre-trial hearing set the day before.Lancelot said the recent developments in the case have brought a sense of progress.”The things that have surfaced in the last seven days alone have been positive steps forward,” Lancelot said. “It definitely seems like the legal system is taking its course.”Attorneys representing people connected to the case said Lancelot’s experience reflects a broader pattern.Matt Lindsay, a partner with the Odom Law Firm, said many clients report similar experiences after seeking treatment at the facility. “In a case like Grant, he went in with a simple panic attack and came out worse than he went in,” Lindsay said. “Many clients describe being held longer than expected and leaving without receiving meaningful treatment.”Lindsay said the consistency of those accounts stood out early in the firm’s investigation.”What really stood out to us early on was the consistency of the stories and the consistency of the experiences,” Lindsay said. The firm is representing more than 300 clients, who it believes were affected. Lindsay said additional people have come forward in recent days following news coverage of the indictments. While the criminal case proceeds, civil litigation tied to the allegations is also ongoing, with a trial in one of those cases scheduled for 2027.Lancelot said he hopes the case leads to accountability and prevents similar situations in the future.”I think the number one thing is justice and going forward, don’t want this to ever repeat itself,” Lancelot said.
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. —
A Northwest Arkansas man says he went to a behavioral health unit seeking help after a panic attack but left feeling worse and is now speaking out after four defendants in a federal case tied to a Northwest Medical Center behavioral health unit pleaded not guilty this week. He is now part of a civil class action lawsuit against former psychiatrist Brian Hyatt.
Grant Lancelot, a Springdale native and small business owner, said he admitted himself to a behavioral health unit several years ago after experiencing what he described as a panic attack.
“I went in for something, looking for some help,” Lancelot said. “I ended up staying there for several days and came out a little more confused than when I went in.”
Lancelot is among those following a federal case involving eight defendants accused of conspiring to unlawfully detain patients at Northwest Medical Center’s Behavioral Health Unit. Four defendants, Brian Hyatt, Robert Green, Georgette Rice and Collyn Harlan, pleaded not guilty in federal court this week. The remaining defendants, Devon Talbert, Lindsey Hess, Miranda Newburn and Owen Benjamin, are scheduled to make their initial court appearances.
All eight defendants face a charge of conspiracy to commit kidnapping, which carries a possible sentence of up to life in prison. Hyatt and Talbert also face an additional charge related to the unlawful distribution of controlled substances.
Three of the defendants have been released on pretrial conditions, while Hyatt remains in custody pending a detention hearing on April 7. A jury trial is scheduled for June 9, with a pre-trial hearing set the day before.
Lancelot said the recent developments in the case have brought a sense of progress.
“The things that have surfaced in the last seven days alone have been positive steps forward,” Lancelot said. “It definitely seems like the legal system is taking its course.”
Attorneys representing people connected to the case said Lancelot’s experience reflects a broader pattern.
Matt Lindsay, a partner with the Odom Law Firm, said many clients report similar experiences after seeking treatment at the facility.
“In a case like Grant, he went in with a simple panic attack and came out worse than he went in,” Lindsay said. “Many clients describe being held longer than expected and leaving without receiving meaningful treatment.”
Lindsay said the consistency of those accounts stood out early in the firm’s investigation.
“What really stood out to us early on was the consistency of the stories and the consistency of the experiences,” Lindsay said.
The firm is representing more than 300 clients, who it believes were affected. Lindsay said additional people have come forward in recent days following news coverage of the indictments.
While the criminal case proceeds, civil litigation tied to the allegations is also ongoing, with a trial in one of those cases scheduled for 2027.
Lancelot said he hopes the case leads to accountability and prevents similar situations in the future.
“I think the number one thing is justice and going forward, don’t want this to ever repeat itself,” Lancelot said.