Nueces County Jail Death – Texas Surratt

The Nueces County Sheriff’s Office, in Corpus Christi, Texas, filed a report regarding the custodial death of Texas Surratt. Mr. Surratt was 58 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 July 24, 2023, at approximately 1026 a signal 35U (medical emergency) was called in the Intake Area. Officers were attempting to move Texas Surrat from holding cell when they observed he was pale, his skin was cold to touch, and he was not following verbal commands. Officers called for LVN (Licensed Vocational Nurse) to examine Mr. Surratt. Upon entering the cell Nurse Japheth Fernandez attempted to obtain a temperature on Mr. Surratt and received a “LO” reading. Nurse Fernandez asked for a wheelchair in order to move Mr. Surratt to the Intake Medical Station. While wheeling him out of the cell medical staff attempted to obtain a blood pressure but were unsuccessful. Mr. Surratt had a very faint pulse and at that time RN (Registered Nurse) Normajean Bullard, who began assisting Nurse Fernandez directed Officers to place Inmate Surratt on his back and onto the floor. Nurse Fernandez then began administering CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation), the AED (Automated External Defibrillator) was retrieved and pads were placed onto Inmate Surratt’s chest, but did not call for “shock” to be used. EMS (Emergency Medical Services) was called, and additional medical staff arrived to assist Nurses Fernandez and Bullard. Mr. Surratt was reportedly making sounds and swatting away at Nurses as they attempted to place an oxygen mask over his nose and mouth. EMS arrived at the facility at approximately 1033 and charge of the scene. After assessing Mr. Surratt and administering aid, he was placed onto the stretcher and loaded into the awaiting ambulance, which departed the facility at approximately 1051 to Christus Spohn Shoreline Hospital Emergency Room. Shortly after arriving at the hospital, Texas Surratt was pronounced dead at 1108. At that time Nueces County Sheriff’s Office Sergeant Cynthia Garza with the Criminal Investigative Division and Texas Department of Public Safety Texas Ranger Max Honesto were notified. The cause of death is unknown at this time pending the results of the autopsy.”

The report further notes that Mr. Surratt did not appear intoxicated (alcohol or drugs) and did not exhibit any medical problems.

The 14^th Amendment of the United States Constitution requires Texas jails to provide reasonable medical care to detainees. If jails fail to do so, and a person dies as a result, then certain family members may be able to file a federal civil rights lawsuit. Our Texas jail neglect and abuse law firm is handling a number of such cases across Texas.

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.