Man Dies in Dallas County, Texas Jail

The Dallas County Sheriff’s Office, in Dallas, Texas, filed a report regarding the custodial death of Charles Thomas.  Mr. Thomas was only 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 in its entirety:

“On Wednesday August 9th, 2023 at approximately 6:50 a.m., a Dallas County Sheriff Detention Service Officer (DSO) was conducting a physical round in tank 4P10, located within the Dallas County West Tower Jail Facility, 111 W. Commerce Street, Dallas, Dallas County, Texas 75207-4313. During this time, the DSO reported observing Dallas County Inmate Charles Korey Thomas B/M XX-XX-1981 (Decedent) Booking Number XXXXXXXX unresponsive within his single cell (G). Medical assistance was requested. Parkland Jail Health Medical Staff Members and Dallas Fire Rescue personnel responded to the Decedent’s Cell. At 7:19 a.m., Dallas Fire Rescue personnel (J. Knickerbocker) Pronounced the Decedent as deceased and did not transport due to signs of death (post-mortem lividity/rigor mortis). On Thursday August 10th, 2023 an autopsy was performed by Medical Examiner with the Dallas County Medical Examiner’s Office. the results of the examination are currently pending. Addressing question 19: The Decedent was found unresponsive within a single cell which was also located within a multiple occupancy tank where inmates could meet. DSO SVC #23-045094 Dallas County Medical Examiner ISF #23-15324.”

Oddly, in response to the questions whether Mr. Thomas appeared intoxicated, made suicidal statements, or exhibited any medical problems, Dallas County responded, “unknown.”

The United States Constitution requires Texas jails to provide reasonable medical and mental health care to detainees. If a detainee in a Texas jail dies as a result of a failure to provide medical care, then certain surviving family members may be able to bring a federal civil rights lawsuit. Our Texas constitutional rights law firm is litigating a number of such cases across Texas, including one case against Dallas County.

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.