Second Custodial Death Report Filed Regard Harris County Death

We recently posted about the death of Richard Edgerton.  Mr. Edgerton was only 49 years of age at the time of his death.  We reported regarding a custodial death report filed by the Houston Police Department on or about September 9, 2019.  The Harris County Sheriff’s Department, in Texas, has now filed a custodial death report with the Attorney General of Texas.  Information in this post was obtained from that report.  We make no allegation of any wrongdoing against anyone related to Mr. Edgerton’s death. 

The latest report indicates that Mr. Edgerton was arrested and charged with possession of a controlled substance on September 5, 2019.  He was booked into the Harris County Jail on that date.

On September 6, 2019, he was assessed by medical personnel.  Mr. Edgerton reported daily heroin use.  Medications were allegedly administered to him, and he was admitted into a medical infirmary for opiate detoxification.  While in a single cell, Mr. Edgerton rolled off of his bunk and laid motionless on the floor.  Medical staff members responded to his cell after being notified by an officer.  Nurses started CPR and transported Mr. Edgerton to a clinic.  The Houston Fire Department responded and transported Mr. Edgerton to a local hospital.  Mr. Edgerton was pronounced deceased at 10:34 p.m.

Pretrial detainees, such as Mr. Edgerton, are entitled to reasonable medical care.  This entitlement is a guarantee pursuant to the 14th Amendment to the United States Constitution.  If jailers are deliberately indifferent to an inmate’s serious medical needs, then jailers can be liable for violating the United States Constitution.  Family members can file post-death claims regarding any such issue.  Once again, this paragraph provides general information and is not necessarily applicable to Mr. Edgerton’s situation.  

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.