Man in Dallas County Jail Dies

The Dallas County Sheriff’s Office, in Dallas, Texas, filed a report regarding the custodial death of Spencer Swearnger. Mr. Swearnger was 52 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 November 11th, 2023, Spencer Wayne Swearnger B/M XX-XX-1971 (Decedent) was transported to Parkland Hospital for a medical condition. On November 15th, 2023 the Decedent was pronounced deceased by Dr. Michael Ruben. Dallas County Sheriff’s Department Detective J.M. Cox #435 Criminal Investigation Section.”

Oddly, in response to the question whether Mr. Swearnger exhibited appeared intoxicated (alcohol or drugs) and whether he exhibited any medical problems, Dallas County responded, “unknown.” Furthermore, the report provides no information regarding whether Mr. Swearnger was receiving any medical treatment prior to November 11, 2023.

The 14^th Amendment to the United States Constitution requires Texas jails to provide reasonable medical care 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.

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.