The Custodial Death of Juan Cordova-Sanchez in the Texarkana Jail is Under Investigation
Twenty-six-year-old Juan Cordova-Sanchez of Nash, Texas, lost consciousness within minutes of being booked into Bi-State Justice Center in Texarkana, Texas. Cordova-Sanchez was arrested at 1:56 a.m. on Saturday, November 18, 2017. By 2:40 a.m., jailers contacted the Texarkana Police Department to advise them that he was in cardiac arrest and losing consciousness. Cordova-Sanchez was transported to Wadley Regional Medical Center in Texarkana, where he later died. Autopsy results are pending. The Texas Rangers are investigating the custodial death. The Texas Commission on Jail Standards (TCJS) will also look into the tragic death by examining jail records and conducting a jail inspection, to determine whether minimum standards were being followed at the time Cordova-Sanchez died.
A possibly related detail preceding the arrest of Cordova-Sanchez is that he had contacted 9-1-1 in the midst of events surrounding the entire police encounter. He said on the emergency call that he may be injured. Nothing further has been reported in this regard.
Jailers have a responsibility to provide a safe environment for prisoners and staff members. Routine inspections are made at Texas jails, and counties are held accountable, if there is evidence that minimum standards are not being met. For instance, in late October a jail inspection report was released about Edwards County Jail in Rocksprings, Texas. Eight items were listed that allege failures to meet minimum jail standards. One details a standard regarding screening of prisoners as they are admitted. It is alleged that a prisoner indicated that he had a traumatic brain injury (TBI) and records show that medical personnel were not notified. A supervisor was not informed, either, according to records.
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