NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- The I-Team has learned that state officials were concerned about how patients were restrained at a youth center before two patients died there.

Video: DCS Concerned Over Patient Care At Youth Center Before

Officials said Chad Youth Enhancement Center was on the Department of Children’s Services radar well before two teens died in separate incidents involving restraints.

Officials said 14-year-old Linda Harris stopped breathing while being restrained in September 2005.

DCS files show that eight months earlier in January 2005, children had complained to DCS inspectors about rough treatment at Chad.

One girl told DCS that the staff supervisor "will try to hurt students during restraints" and "wants us to scream."

Another child said he’s "seen big Mike slam kids down real hard on the floor.”

Teens told DCS that they would be put in restraints for breaking the rules.

DCS said that children had told them that "if you refuse to go to bed or tear up paper, they will put you in a restraint."

DCS said Chad had a significant problem with immature and poorly trained staff that resulted in inappropriate restraints. Management promised to be more selective in hiring staff.

Nine months after those interviews, Harris died.

That's when DCS said they decided not to put any more Tennessee children at the center.

"We had three kids in there, and we found other placements for them. And ever since then we had not put any of our state custody kids up at Chad,” said DCS representative Rob Johnson.

But other states, including Pennsylvania, kept sending emotionally troubled children to Chad.

On June 3, a 17-year-old from Philadelphia died after being restrained.

"Right now, because there was another death there, our special investigations unit, we're doing our own investigation in tandem with local police,” Johnson said.

Chad is owned by for-profit company Universal Health Services. They have an office on West End Avenue.

UHC declined to comment on this story and have not returned phone calls.

*If you have any information on the Chad Youth Development Center or wish to contact reporter Nancy Amons please call her at 353-2284 or send Nancy an e-mail.