Terrance D’Shawn Hammond Dies After Incarceration in Brazos County, Texas Jail

The Brazos County Sheriff’s Office, in Bryan, Texas, filed a report regarding the custodial death of Terrance D’Shawn Hammond. Mr. Hammond was 44 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 anyone.

The report indicates that Mr. Hammond’s medical cause of death is pending autopsy results. It further indicates that Mr. Hammond was being incarcerated in a multiple occupancy cell, and the initial reason for law enforcement contact prior to arrest was an alcohol/drug offense. Oddly, in response to the prompt “appear intoxicated (alcohol or drugs),” the Brazos County Sheriff’s Office answered, “Unknown.”

The summary portion of the report reads in its entirety:

“On Friday May 13, 2022 at approximately 8:08 a.m., 44-year-old Terrance Hammond of Hearne, Texas, was transported from the Brazos County Detention Center to CHI St. Joseph’s Hospital in Bryan. He was pronounced dead at 08:53 a.m. at the hospital’s Emergency Department. Mr. Hammond was initially detained by the College Station police Department at 11:23 p.m. then was subsequently arrested and transported to the jail. He was accepted at the jail at 01:14 a.m. and was in the process of being admitted on charges of:

• Possession of Controlled Substance PG 1/1-B<1G,

• Fail to Identify Fugitive Intentionally Giving False/Fictitious information,

• Travis County Warrant for Child Support, and

• Brazos County warrant for Fail to Identify Fugitive Intentionally Giving False/Fictitious information.

At approximately 07:57 a.m. jail staff conducted a check on the man and he appeared to be in medical distress. Medical staff at the Detention Center were called to evaluate him, and immediately began performing lifesaving efforts. During this time, at approximately 08:00 a.m., 911 was called and EMS arrived at approximately 08:06 a.m. Bryan EMS conducted their evaluation and transported him to the hospital where he later died.”

Thus, the report provides no information regarding how often, if at all, Mr. Hammond was periodically checked. Periodic checks are required by the Texas Commission on Jail Standards. Moreover, the report provides no information regarding any medical issues which Mr. Hammond demonstrated while in the jail but before he was ultimately found.

The United States Constitution requires Texas jails to provide reasonable medical care to arrestees. If jailers fail to provide such care, and act in a deliberately indifferent or unreasonably way, and a person dies as a result, then certain surviving family members may be able to file a federal civil rights lawsuit. These suits are typically filed by attorneys who are familiar with the standards required, as such cases are difficult at best to prosecute. Qualified immunity is a significant bar to many such lawsuits, and it is important that an appropriate complaint be filed.

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