Man Dies in the Custody of the Corpus Christi, Texas Police Department – Excited Delirium Seemingly Blamed

The Corpus Christi Police Department filed a custodial death report with the Texas State Attorney General, in March 2018, regarding the death of Derrick James Miller. Mr. Miller was 38 years of age at the time of his death. Information in this post was obtained from that report. We make no allegation of any wrongdoing against anyone but are simply providing information.

On March 16, 2018, Corpus Christi police officers responded to a call about an alleged disturbance on North Padre Island Drive. Police officers were met by some of Mr. Miller’s family members. They indicated that Mr. Miller was acting in a strange manner, and destroying personal property. Officers allegedly entered the residence and located Mr. Miller. The Corpus Christi Police Department reported that he was “exhibiting excited delirium behavior.” Nevertheless, officers indicated that they were able to “secure” Mr. Miller without incident. Mr. Miller then indicated that he was having difficulty breathing. Mr. Miller ultimately stopped breathing and passed away at a local hospital.

“Excited delirium” is controversial. The phrase is not found in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. Some argue that it is a term developed to at times defend improper police conduct. Others believe that it is a real condition. Wikipedia has a short article regarding the term, and it provides a good starting point for excited delirium research – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Excited_delirium

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.