Edgar Garza Dies in Starr County, Texas Jail
The Starr County Sheriff’s Department filed a custodial death report with the Attorney General of Texas regarding the death of Edgar Garza. Mr. Garza was only 32 years old at the time of his death. We provide in this post information we obtained from that report, and we make no allegation of any wrongdoing against anyone related to Mr. Garza’s death. Instead, we are providing general information. Our Texas civil rights law firm keeps track of custodial deaths in Texas in attempts to keep the public apprised of what is occurring in Texas jails.
The new custodial death form, implemented fairly recently, is only two pages. Unfortunately, the shorter form provides less information to the public. The form regarding Mr. Garza’s death indicates that Mr. Garza was arrested and died on October 18, 2020.
The Starr County Sheriff’s Department chose not to complete all fields in the form, and failed to provide any information for the following fields: Death Code; Manner of Death Description; Custody Code; Code of Charges; Intoxicated; and Medical Treatment Description. The Starr County Sheriff’s Department indicated that Mr. Garza did not make any suicidal statements, did not exhibit any mental health problems, and did not exhibit any medical problems.
The summary portion of the report read in its entirety:
“On October 18,2020 at 9:22pm inmate Edgar Garza D.O.B. 3/2/1988 from 374 Victoria Ave. Roma, Texas was brought in to the Starr County Detention Center, 100 East 6th Street Rio Grande City, Texas 78582. Edgar Garza was arrested by Starr County Sheriff’s Office Deputies for the charge of Unauthorized use of a Motor Vehicle. Inmate Edgar Garza is screened for suicide and mental developmental impairments and answers negative to all the questions. After being processed and booked, inmate Garza was placed in the holding cell with another inmate at 9:57pm. At 11:15pm Guard conducts a face to face check on the holding cell inmates. At that time inmate Garza is laying on the bench by the door. At 11:19pm inmate Garza gets up and removes his pants, exposing basketball shorts being worn under his pants. Inmate Garza then makes his way to the restroom stalls, which are covered with metal partitions. Inmate Garza is seen on camera moving around over the top of the partition. At 11:27pm the Guard does a cell check on the detox cell, which is next to holding cell, to check on a problematic inmate in that cell. At 11:36 the Guard does a cell check on the holding cell while inmate Garza is in the restroom stall. At 11:59pm the Guard does another round of checks when he notices inmate Garza’s feet through the bottom of the partition. The Guard immediately makes his way into the holding cell to find inmate Garza hanging from the partition support beam. The Guard calls for assistance. Other Guards arrive to assist. The first Guard M undoes the knot from the beam and the second Guard removes the rope around Inmate Garza’s neck and begins to administer first aid. Shortly thereafter EMS arrives and it is determined that Edgar Garza has no vital signs. I, Chief Jailer , was notified of the situation as it was happening via telephone. As I arrived at the Jail, I contacted The Texas Rangers and briefed them of the situation. I also requested a patrol officer and Starr County Investigators to assist. The rope that inmate Garza used appeared to be the waist draw string from his shorts. Texas Rangers arrived and took over the investigation. Justice of the Peace arrived and pronounced Inmate Edgar Garza deceased and ordered an autopsy.”
Our Texas civil rights law firm has unfortunately handled a number of jail suicide cases, and suicides in Texas county jails and city holding facilities continue to be a significant problem. The United States Constitution guarantees the right of pre-trial detainees to receive reasonable medical care and reasonable mental health care, and also to be protected from themselves if they are suicidal. If a jailer fails to act reasonably and/or is deliberately indifferent to needs of an inmate, and the inmate dies, the jailer may be liable to certain surviving family members pursuant to a federal cause of action. Once again, we are providing general information and make no allegation as to whether anyone acted inappropriately with regard to Mr. Garza’s death.
Dean Malone
Dean Malone