Zachary Keen Brown, Only 19 Years Old, Dies of an Apparent Overdose After Being Booked Into Ochiltree County Jail in Perryton, Texas
Zachary Keen Brown, age 19, was arrested on March 21, 2018, in Perryton, Texas, and had a seizure a couple of hours later. Jail personnel at Ochiltree County Jail sent for emergency medical services. While EMTs were en route, Brown said that prior to going to jail, he had ingested narcotics. The prisoner was treated for a drug overdose when emergency medical services arrived, and Brown was then transported by ambulance to Ochiltree General Hospital. While there, Brown’s health condition destabilized further. He was then transported to Northwest Texas Hospital (NWTH) in Amarillo via medical helicopter. Two days later, Brown died at NWTH. Texas Rangers are investigating Brown’s death.
Earlier this year, on February 9, 2018, another custodial death associated with a drug overdose occurred in Texas. Juan Raul Garcia, Jr., had just been booked into Garza County Jail at 3:49 p.m. when a jailer called for emergency medical services to check his vital signs. Garcia said he thought he may be having a panic attack. He was later taken to a cell, but a medical officer said Garcia needed to be in a detox holding cell for purposes of observation. Shortly after, Garcia advised an officer he had swallowed approximately a gram of methamphetamine; and he didn’t think he was going to make it. He began sweating and shaking profusely.
Allegedly, no further medical assistance was provided to Garcia after he told jail staff he had swallowed methamphetamine and obviously was having visible physical issues. He was checked on later by the captain in the jail, per a medical officer’s request. A police officer began doing chest compressions after 6:05 p.m. Before another hour had passed, Garcia was deceased.
Prisoners have a right to receive appropriate medical care. If their rights according to the Fourteenth Amendment are violated, jailers and other officials can be held liable for damages.
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