Quaid Copplio Thomas Dies After Arrest by Plano, Texas Police Department

The Plano Police Department, in Texas, filed a report regarding the custodial death of Quaid Copplio Thomas. Mr. Thomas was 50 years old at the time of his death. We provide in this post information we obtained from that report, and we make no allegation of any wrongdoing against any specific person.

The summary portion of the report reads in its entirety:

“Officers were dispatched to a male sleeping in a vehicle. Officers contacted Thomas and noticed pills and numerous perscription bottles in his vehicle. Officers noted Thomas appeared highly intoxicated and he was subsequently was arrested for public intoxication and an active warrant. Thomas was taken to the Plano City Jail and placed in a cell that was monitored with physical checks and constant video monitoring. At approximatley midnight, detention officers noticed that Thomas was not moving or snoring and physically checked him. Thomas was unconscious and not breathing. so staff contacted EMS and began to perform life saving measures. The Plano Fire Department responded and transported Thomas to the hospital.”

The report also admits, that in addition to being intoxicated, Mr. Thomas exhibited mental health problems.

It appears, based upon the summary provided by the Plano Police Department, that police officers did not have any medical personnel evaluate Mr. Thomas before placing him into a cell at the Plano City jail. Based on the summary, it appears that staff at the jail contacted EMS only after Mr. Thomas was found unconscious and not breathing. It would seem to be prudent, if officers find a man apparently sleeping and/or passed out in a vehicle, with pills and numerous prescription bottles in the vehicle, and who further appears to be “highly intoxicated,” to have medical personnel check the man before incarcerating him.

The 14th Amendment to the United States Constitution guarantees the right of pre-trial detainees to receive reasonable medical care. If arresting officers and/or jailers fail to obtain care for a serious health issue, and a person dies as a result, then certain surviving family members may be able to file 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.