It was approximately 4:10 AM on December 7, 2022, when a jailer discovered Joshua Cody Fouse unresponsive in the multiple-occupancy cell where he was housed in Smith County Jail. A Code Blue aka medical emergency was called. Officers responded and administered CPR and used the AED defibrillator. Personnel with Emergency Medical Services (EMS) arrived at the jail and continued lifesaving measures. Tragically, however, Mr. Fouse was declared deceased in the jail at 4:56 AM.

Quincy Butler Dies in Smith County Jail Continued

Forty-four-year-old Quincy Butler was booked into Smith County Jail in Tyler, Texas, on November 2, 2017. The jail’s address is 104 South Spring Avenue, Tyler TX 75702. During intake, it was noted that Mr. Butler exhibited mental health problems.

Mr. Butler was housed in a side cell, which is a cell designed for a single inmate. In Mr. Butler’s case, he was segregated to the side cell because he had been deemed a danger to other inmates. In addition, he was on suicide watch because during initial booking, he gave answers indicating he was at risk for suicide. The jail required face-to-face observations of Mr. Butler every 10 minutes.

On November 8, 2017—less than a week after his arrival—a detention officer saw Mr. Butler hanging by his neck inside the side cell where he had been checked on 9 minutes earlier. The detention officer immediately cut Mr. Butler down from the ligature, and cardiopulmonary resuscitation was initiated.

Mr. Butler was transported to a local hospital, where he was listed in very critical condition. He was removed from life support and died on November 21, 2017.

Learn more in Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, and Part 4 of this series.

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–Guest Contributor