Cesar Gomez Dies in a Seguin TX Jail Within 1 Day

Thirty-four-year-old detainee Cesar Andrew Gomez died on January 20, 2024, at 3:06 PM in Guadalupe County Jail. His death occurred less than 24 hours after his January 19 booking at 6:55 PM. Under the authority of Sheriff Arnold Zwicke, the Guadalupe County Sheriff’s Department filed a custodial death report (CDR) about Mr. Gomez on February 6, 2024. The report indicates that Mr. Gomez appeared to be intoxicated by drugs or alcohol. “Unknown” is the answer to whether he made suicidal statements.

The cause of death of Mr. Gomez is shown as unknown and pending the results of an autopsy. The only details that pertain to events surrounding his death are in the summary of how it occurred. The following insights are gleaned from the summary:

At 2:37 PM on January 20, while Mr. Gomez was in a cell in the booking area, a code 1 (medical emergency) was called. When medical and SERT arrived at the cell, Mr. Gomez appeared to be having a seizure. The facility doctor was contacted, and he advised jail personnel to contact EMS. Nine-one-one emergency medical services (EMS) were requested to come to the Guadalupe County Jail at 2617 N. Guadalupe St, Seguin, Texas 78155. EMS was contacted again and informed that the team was doing compressions. When EMS arrived at 2:51 PM, they took over the scene. EMS declared Mr. Gomez deceased at 3:06 PM.

Are Intoxicated Inmates in Texas Jails Denied Medical Care?

Custodial deaths in Texas jails frequently occur within hours or a few days of intoxicated persons being booked. Usually, these individuals are placed in detox, where there is no indication that treatment of any kind is administered. A 2023 news story out of Lufkin, Texas, provides a narrative of exactly this type of situation. The following information is derived from the story:

It was reported to the police in Lufkin, Texas, that an intoxicated man was sitting in the street in the 1200 block of Sayers Street. Police discovered that the man was intoxicated and mumbling, not making any sense. The police took the man to the county jail at 9:42 PM. He was immediately placed in detox.
Medical staff assessed him at 9:53 PM, and then observation checks in 10-minute intervals began. The man’s vital signs were taken by a jail nurse at 10:56 PM. The nurse indicated that the vital signs were within the expected range for an intoxicated person. After about 30 minutes, at around 11:26 PM, the man acknowledged a corrections officer at the jail. But then at 11:36 PM, the man was found slumped over and nonresponsive.
The news release reported that jail officers immediately began the application of life-saving measures. They called EMS, and the man was taken by ambulance to a local hospital. A short time later, he was pronounced deceased.

Help is Available for Certain Cases of Jail Neglect

Did you suffer a life-altering illness or injury due to jail neglect when you were in a county or municipal jail? Or did a loved one die in a jail anywhere in the U.S. and you strongly believe it was because of jail neglect, such as medical neglect? If so, contact our offices today. We have years of experience handling cases of jail neglect, and we care about your concerns. Calls to our law offices are answered 24/7. You can also text us or fill out our contact form. We will look into your case and help if there is in any way a possibility that we can do so.

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