Jeffrey Brake Dies in the Custody of Oklahoma’s Cleveland County Jail
Sixty-one-year-old Jeffrey Brake was arrested by Norman, Oklahoma, police officers on Saturday, June 28, 2025, after he was found crawling on a roadway, seemingly under the influence of drugs. The police transported him to a local hospital for treatment. The next morning at 7:09 a.m., the police were called to the Norman Regional Hospital. Again, they found Mr. Brake crawling on the ground, but this time it was near the ambulance bay. Hospital personnel provided officers with documentation for his treatment and release.
Norman police officers arrested Mr. Brake at that time on a complaint of public intoxication involving narcotics. Police transported Mr. Brake to the Cleveland County Jail, aka Cleveland County Detention Center (CCDC). Upon his arrival at the jail, however, he experienced a medical emergency. Officers and later first responders performed lifesaving measures. Mr. Brake was transported to a local hospital, where he was later pronounced deceased.
Mr. Brake’s cause of death is unknown and is awaiting the results of an autopsy. However, per a spokesperson for the Norman police, a preliminary investigation indicates that Mr. Brake’s death was likely the result of a medical emergency. The police spokesperson also said that further investigation into the circumstances of Mr. Brake’s death is ongoing.
The address of Cleveland County Jail is 2550 W Franklin Rd, Norman, OK 73069. The jail has a 540-bed capacity.
Inmate Deaths in Cleveland County Detention Center Cause Alarm
Five inmate deaths occurred at the Cleveland County Detention Center in Norman, Oklahoma, in 2024 alone. In very recent news, it was reported that the death of Jeffrey Brake is the 11th death in the jail in three years. Another concern raised in this week’s news is that the Cleveland County Jail has failed annual jail inspections since 2022.
At least one of the tragic deaths at CCDC was a suicide. Fifty-eight-year-old Daniel Freeman was arrested on August 22, 2024, by Norman police. Mr. Freeman died three days later. The autopsy report confirms that he died by suicide.
Mr. Freeman had been found hanging from a makeshift noose. He had crafted the ligature from a piece of a blanket. Mr. Freeman was found unresponsive in his cell. Lifesaving measures were started, and he was transported to a local hospital, where he was pronounced deceased. Toxicology results showed the presence of an antidepressant but no other substances in his system.
It was questioned how Mr. Freeman could have made a makeshift noose because the jail was under intense scrutiny at that time amidst ongoing investigations into other inmates’ deaths. Other concerns included staffing levels and widespread criticism of jail conditions.
The death of 27-year-old Jacob Dieball at the Cleveland County Detention Center occurred on January 10, 2025. Mr. Dieball was found unresponsive in his bunk. There were signs that he may have been experiencing a possible overdose. Lifesaving measures began, including the use of Narcan. Preliminary information revealed that Mr. Dieball was reported alive at about 9:20 a.m. and was pronounced deceased 40 minutes later at 10:00 a.m. Mr. Dieball had been detained at the jail since October 2024.
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