Torry Lamont Newman Dies in Smith County, Texas (Tyler) Jail

DM Inside a jail cell — Interior of solitary confinement cell with metal bed desk and toilet in old prison

The Smith County Sheriff’s Department, in Tyler, Texas, filed a custodial death report regarding the death of Torry Lamont Newman. Mr. Newman was only 46 years old at the time of his death. We provide information in this post we learned from that report, and we make no allegation of any wrongdoing against anyone.

The summary portion of the report reads in its entirety:

“On the morning of 02/18/2022, Officer Norali Velazquez was conducting observations in booking. At approximately 0511 (hours), Officer Velazquez observed that Inmate Torry Newman did not appear to be breathing while inside a detox cell. Officer Velazquez and another officer entered the cell and found him unresponsive. Nurses were called and a “Code Blue” was called over the radio. Nursing staff arrived and began chest compressions. EMS were called to the jail in the meantime and took over CPR attempts upon their arrival. Life-saving measures were then ended by EMS at approximately 0556. Afterwards, the on-call JP and Texas Ranger was called and notified.”

Therefore, the report provides no information at all regarding what medical issues Mr. Newman may have been having, whether he was on a constant or periodic watch, or anything else about what led to his death. The report does indicate that Mr. Newman had mental health problems. Far too many jails are used to house the mentally ill. There should be observation logs and intake paperwork, and hopefully video recordings, available that would better tell the story of what led to the death of a relatively young man.

All people incarcerated in Texas jails have a right, pursuant to the United States Constitution, to receive reasonable medical care. If those working in jails, whether jailers, telecommunications officers, or others, fail to provide needed care, and/or are deliberately indifferent and/or act in an objectively unreasonable manner, and a person dies as a result, then they could be liable to certain surviving family members in a lawsuit. Likewise, if a county jail’s policies, practices, and/or customs as to how it treats inmates and/or responds to medical issues causes the death of an inmate, then a county can also be liable to certain surviving family members. These lawsuits are usually filed in federal court by Texas civil rights lawyers.

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