The Bowie County Sheriff’s Office filed a custodial death report with the Attorney General of Texas about the death of Michael Wayne Haywood. Mr. Haywood was 55 years old at the time of his death. We obtained information in this post from that report, and we make no allegation of any wrongdoing against anyone.
On April 13, 2020, Bowie County deputies responded to an address in New Boston, Texas regarding a disturbance related to Mr. Haywood. The caller indicated that Mr. Haywood was either intoxicated or mentally unstable. Deputies spoke with Mr. Haywood inside the residence, and then moved to the outside. Mr. Haywood agreed to allow deputies to drive him home. Mr. Haywood was transported without restraints to the area of his home in New Boston, Texas. Mr. Haywood then refused to exit the patrol vehicle and began exhibiting erratic behavior. He damaged the patrol vehicle by breaking the inside door handle to prevent his removal from the car. He was arrested for that offense.
Due to his behavior, the patrol supervisor advised to transport him to the Bi-State jail without restraints. During that transport, Mr. Haywood became excited and attempted to exit the moving vehicle. A deputy stopped the vehicle, and Mr. Haywood was removed. Hand and leg restraints were placed on Mr. Haywood. He allegedly resisted restraints, and “minimal control tactics were used to accomplish placement of both sets of restraints.” Mr. Haywood was placed back into the vehicle, in a seated, upright position, with hands restrained behind his back.
Mr. Haywood passively resisted being removed from the vehicle at the jail. He was escorted to the jail by LaSalle Corrections. LaSalle Corrections is a private jail operator operating the jail in Texarkana, Texas. Bowie County Sheriff’s deputies exited the facility and left Mr. Haywood in the care of LaSalle Corrections officers.
In-house jail video depicted Mr. Haywood’s erratic behavior, which appeared to be the result of an intoxicant. He was escorted to a holding cell where correction officers attempted to change him into jail clothing. Video depicted a lieutenant hit Mr. Haywood one time with his knee as Mr. Haywood passively resisted on the floor. It appears that the strike was to the back of Mr. Haywood’s neck or his head.
Mr. Haywood was changed into jail-issued pants and escorted to cell K-4. He continued to passively resist but was ultimately placed into the cell without further incident. He was found unresponsive not too long thereafter. He was pronounced deceased at 5:45 a.m. by Justice of the Peace Nancey Talley.
The Bowie County Sheriff’s Office notified the area Texas Ranger. Thus, the Texas Rangers will likely conduct a death investigation. Such investigations do not address civil liability, but instead any potential criminal liability. An autopsy of Mr. Haywood is being conducted by the Southwestern Institute of Forensic Science at Dallas.
