Carlos S. Contreras Dies After Incarceration in Nueces County Jail

The Nueces County Sheriff’s Office, in Corpus Christi, Texas, filed a report regarding the custodial death of Carlos S. Contreras. Mr. Contreras was 67 years old at the time of his death. We provide information we obtained from that report, and we make no allegation of any wrongdoing against anyone.

The report indicates that Mr. Contreras was originally incarcerated in the jail at 8:49 p.m. on September 27, 2022, and that he passed away at 10:20 a.m. on October 2, 2022. The summary portion of the report reads in its entirety:

“On 10/02/22, At approximately 9:28am, Nueces County Inmate Carlos Contreras SO#XXXXXXXX was found to be unresponsive. Corpus Christi EMS was called and arrived at the Jail at approximately 9:35am. CPR and AED machine were administered by both Nueces County Jail Medical Staff and Corpus Christi EMS. At approximately 9:51am, Inmate Contreras was transported to Christus Spohn Hospital Shoreline, 600 Elizabeth St., Corpus Christi, TX 78404 by EMS Medic Unit #1. At 10:20am, Inmate Contreras, was pronounced deceased by Medical Staff at Christus Spohn Hospital. Nueces County, CID Sgt. Marilyn King was notified as well as Texas Ranger, Rodney Henderson, Texas Department of Public Safety. The cause of death is unknown at this time pending the results of the autopsy.”

The report provides no information at all about whether Mr. Contreras had been periodically observed in his cell, whether he was having medical issues, and if he was having medical issues, whether he had been receiving treatment. Inmates in Texas jails are entitled to receive medical care. This entitlement arises through the 14^th Amendment to the United States Constitution. Prisoners have the right to receive reasonable medical care. If jailers and/or medical personnel act unreasonably and/or are deliberately indifferent regarding such needs, and a person dies as a result, then certain family members of that person may be able to file a federal civil rights lawsuit. Our firm frequently litigates such cases across Texas.

Written By: Dean Malone

Dean Malone

Dean Malone is the founder of Law Offices of Dean Malone, P.C., a jail neglect civil rights law firm. Mr. Malone earned his bachelor's degree at the University of Texas at Dallas, graduating summa cum laude with a 4.0 GPA, and from Baylor University School of Law with a general civil litigation concentration. Mr. Malone served in several staff positions for the Baylor Law Review, including executive editor. Mr. Malone is an experienced trial lawyer, trying a number of cases to jury verdict and also handling arbitrations through final hearing. He heads the jail neglect section of his law firm, in which lawyers litigate cases involving serious injury and death resulting from jail neglect and abuse. Lawyers frequently refer cases to Mr. Malone due to his focus on this very complicated civil rights practice area.