Death at Lubbock County Jail

The Lubbock Police Department, in Texas, filed a report regarding the custodial death of Manuel Ochoa, Jr. Mr. Ochoa was 41 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 summary portion of the report reads:

“Officers observed Manuel Ochoa operating a vehicle and commit multiple traffic violations. Officers initiated a traffic stop and Manuel Ochoa eluded arrest for a short distance before stopping. Manuel Ochoa was then taken into custody and transported to the Lubbock County Detention Center for Eluding arrest and Driving while license invalid.

Upon arrival at the Lubbock County Detention Center, Manuel Ochoa was placed in a holding cell by himself in the pre-booking area. Officers worked on their booking paperwork and checked on him periodically.

At approximately 0542 hours, Manuel Ochoa was found unresponsive in the pre-booking holding cell from an apparent self-inflicted strangulation. Deputies with the Lubbock County Sheriffs Office performed life saving measures until EMS arrived. Manuel Ochoa was transported to University Medical Center where he was pronounced deceased at approximately 0649.”

The report also mentions that Mr. Ochoa did not exhibit any mental health problems and did not make suicidal statements.

The United States Constitution requires Texas jails to protect inmates from themselves and others. If jailers violate a person’s constitutional rights, and that person dies as a result, then certain surviving family members may be able to file a federal constitutional civil rights lawsuit.

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.