Man Dies in Custody of Collin County, Texas
The Collin County, Texas Sheriff Department recently filed a report regarding the custodial death of David Hyun Wang with the Attorney General of Texas. Information in this post was extracted from that report. We do not make any allegation of any wrongdoing, but we are instead simply providing information.
Mr. Wang was only 45 years of age at the time of his death. He was originally incarcerated in the Collin County jail, for alleged drug offenses, on or about December 14, 2018. Mr. Wang made jail staff aware of various medical conditions, which included the need to take daily medications and for dialysis appointments. The report indicates that the jail accommodated Mr. Wang’s medical conditions. However, on Sunday, December 30, 2018, in the early morning hours, Mr. Wang told jailers that he needed medical assistance and wanted to go to the hospital. He indicated that he was too weak to take his medication. He was then transported to Baylor Scott and White Medical Center in McKinney. Mr. Wang passed away the following day.
A relatively new Texas law requires an agency, other than the agency incarcerating a person who dies in custody, to conduct an investigation of the death. Many larger counties in Texas seem to use the district attorney’s office or a local police department to conduct the investigation. Other counties and cities tend to refer death investigations to the Texas Rangers. We are uncertain as to which, if any, agency other than the Collin County Sheriff Department will investigate Mr. Wang’s death.
Dean Malone
Dean Malone