Markist Levar Sims was booked into Matagorda County Jail in Bay City, Texas, at 10:05 PM on August 5, 2022. Jailers housed 45-year-old Mr. Sims in a detoxification cell. At 2:56 AM on August 6, 2022, Mr. Sims was pronounced deceased. The cause of death is unknown and pending autopsy results, per a custodial death report (CDR).

A CDR was Filed on Chester Randolph Ward by the Matagorda County Sheriff’s Department

Chester Randolph Ward was 68 years old when he died following a police encounter in Cedar Lane, Texas, in Matagorda County on November 16, 2017. Pre-custodial use of force was the type of custody Mr. Ward was in at the time of his death. A handgun is listed as the type of weapon that caused the death and law enforcement/correctional personnel is shown under “who caused the death.”

The CDR shows that Mr. Ward exhibited mental health problems and made suicidal statements. The report also indicates that he resisted being arrested or handcuffed and barricaded himself or initiated a standoff.

Officers went to an address to for a welfare check on Mr. Ward because he had been calling 9-1-1 and another police line cursing and making statements categorized as “nonsensical.” The calls became more aggressive and threatening. A warrant to arrest Mr. Ward was obtained. He died as a result of the events that ensued when the warrant was being served.

Learn more in this continuing series.

This website seeks to help prisoners in Texas municipal and county jails. Making accusatory statements against people or entities is never intentional on this site.

–Guest Contributor