Category: Medical Care

The Gray County Sheriff’s Department, in Pampa, Texas, filed a custodial death report with the Attorney General regarding the death of Christopher Dale Shouse. Mr. Shouse was only 45 years old at the time of his death. We provide information we obtained from that report, and we do not allege any wrongdoing against anyone.

Unfortunately, custodial death reports in Texas have been shortened from generally a 6-page report to a 2-page report. Therefore, they now provide the public much less information. It makes little sense to our Texas civil rights law firm that such a change occurred. Regardless, as with other custodial deaths in Texas, little information is provided regarding Mr. Shouse’s death.

The Gray County Sheriff’s Department failed to respond to the following fields in the custodial death report: manner of death description; code of charges; medical treatment description; death code; custody code; and intoxicated. The summary portion of the report reads in its entirety:

“On 06/20/2021 Christopher Shouse was booked into Gray County Jail for Public Intoxication. On 06/21/2021 at 0257 jail staff was conducting observation rounds and observed Shouse lying in the cell unresponsive. Jail staff entered the cell and began chest compressions. EMS was contacted with the first fire personnel arriving on scene at 0306. Chest compressions were continued by fire personnel until EMS arrival. EMS began treating Shouse and ended chest compressions at approximately 0322. He was pronounced deceased by Justice of the Peace Connie Ogle. The cause of death is unknown at this time. Texas Rangers are investigating the death and results of an autopsy are currently pending”.

It is extremely important for Texas jailers to observe a person who has been arrested for public intoxication. It is far too common that a person who is intoxicated by drugs or alcohol for that person to suffer a serious medical event, up to and including death. We have and are litigating cases in which medical treatment has not been provided to inmates in Texas county jails.

We are uncertain, based upon information in the above-referenced report, as to the cause of Mr. Shouse’s death. The custodial death report simply does not provide enough information to make that determination. It also does not address whether Mr. Shouse was observed by jailers and, if so, how often. It does not address Mr. Shouse’s medical condition and/or any medical treatment he might have received. It generally provides very few details regarding Mr. Shouse’s confinement.

We suspect that the Texas Rangers will investigate Mr. Shouse’s death, based on our experience handling Texas jail deaths. The Texas Commission on Jail Standards will also conduct an investigation.

Texas county jail inmates must receive reasonable medical care from jailers and/or medical contractors in the jail pursuant to the 14^th Amendment to the United States Constitution. When any such rights are violated, claims exist pursuant to a federal statute. Those claims are usually filed in federal court.

On June 25, 2020, Abdullahi Mohamed died in Fort Worth, Texas, at Tarrant County Jail. Mr. Mohamed was booked into custody nine days before his death, and it was noted that he exhibited mental health problems. The Medical Examiner indicated that the cause of death could not be determined.

The number of custodial deaths is a concern not only in Texas but across the nation. In recent months, another state reported on a link between medical care and custodial suicides. A previous medical care provider was replaced and a direct result of the change was a marked increase in custodial suicides. The gist of the report was that a lack of appropriate access to mental health resources resulted in an increase in jail fatalities.

According to the Texas Commission on Jail Standards, medical care is the area that gets the most inmate complaints in Texas. Meanwhile, a majority of inmates these days have mental health problems. Counties in Texas and many other states do not have adequate funds to handle both the medical needs and the mental needs of inmates.

Community-based mental health solutions are lacking throughout the country, and Texas county jails are not alone in that they are left to deal with the bulk of the resulting burden.

Learn more in this continuing series.

With the intention of assisting inmates now or previously incarcerated in a Texas county jail, this website provides posts as informational resources. It is not intended for any person or entity to be implicated in any sort of wrongdoing.

–Guest Contributor

The Travis County Sheriff’s Department, in Austin, Texas, filed a custodial death report regarding the death of Eddie Christian Vargas. Mr. Vargas was only 28 years old at the time of his death. We provide information we obtained from that report, and we make no allegations of any wrongdoing against any officer related to Mr. Vargas’ death.

The summary portion of the report reads in its entirety:

“On 06/09/2021 AT 17:20 hrs. TCSO deputies responded to a disturbance call in the 1900-block of Bluebonnet Ln. A resident reported hearing a female scream, a TCSO deputy and Pct. 3 deputy constable arrived to find Eddie Christian Vargas in the middle of Bluebonnet Ln on all fours (hands and knees) with no shirt and his pants and underwear down below his waist, exposing his buttocks. Vargas told one of the deputies at the scene to shoot him and began striking his forehead against the roadway pavement. The deputies approached Vargas to restrain him from self-harm by grabbing his arms in an attempt to stand him to his feet. Vargas pulled away from the deputies and actively resisted being detained. The Pct. 3 deputy Constable forcefully took Vargas to the ground and assisted with handcuffing him. TCSO Deputy DeLeon arrived and assisted with handcuffing Vargas who was now facedown on the ground and at some point became unresponsive”.

Without regard to what happened to Mr. Vargas, the 4^th Amendment to the United States Constitution guarantees the right of pre-trial detainees not to be subjected to excessive force. Force used by police officers must be reasonable. If a law enforcement officer uses unreasonable force with an arrestee, then he or she could be liable for any resulting injury and/or death. Once again, we make no allegation of any wrongdoing against any officer related to Mr. Vargas’ death, as the custodial death report does not provide sufficient information to make such a determination.

The Potter County Sheriff’s Department, in Amarillo, Texas, filed a custodial death report with the Attorney General of Texas regarding the death of David Quannah Brown. Mr. Brown was only 37 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 related to Mr. Brown’s death.

The report indicates that Mr. Brown was originally incarcerated in the Potter County jail at 10:00 p.m. on June 5, 2021, and that he passed away at 4:38 a.m. on June 6, 2021. The summary portion of the report reads in its entirety:

“The inmate named David Quannah Brown W/M 37 years of age was arrested on June 5, 2021 at approximately 2120 PM, ref.the Amarillo Police Department finding him trespassing at a local convenience store. Subject resisted arrest and was Tased twice and OC pepper sprayed by APD officers. He was then brought to the Potter County Detention Center. He arrived at the Center and entered our facility Booking doors at approximately 2200 PM. Correction Officers were advised of him being combative by the APD arresting officers. A search resulted in a glass pipe with residue being found in his left pants pocket. This was given to the APD officer. David Brown was escorted to the male shower in order to be decontaminated ref. pepper spray. Corrections Officers believed him to be under the influence of unknown narcotics. Medical Officer Castro decontaminated David Brown at which time he became actively resistant. He was escorted to Booking Room cell 175. Medical checked his blood pressure and oxygen saturation. He was placed on Suicide Watch due to his inability to answer any intake questions. Medical checked his blood pressure again at approximately 0224 AM and was in this cell with David for eight minutes. At approximately 0336 AM, this inmate was checked on again by Medical Officer Castro. His blood pressure was checked and the officers left the cell at 0341 AM. At approximately 0415 AM, Cpl. Padilla checked on David Brown and shortly thereafter entered the cell. Cpl. Padilla performed a sternum rub and called for medical. Medical responded and after checking pulse began chest compressions and life saving measures. Inmate Brown was declared deceased at 0438 AM by Emergency Services”.

The report does not indicate anything regarding whether the Amarillo Police Department, or the Potter County Sheriff’s Department, contacted EMTs to treat Mr. Brown at the scene after being tased. The report also does not indicate whether Mr. Brown was tased using the drive-stun mode, or in the alternative was shot with the Taser thus potentially resulting in prongs being shot into his skin. The drive-stun mode is used to inflict pain.

Aside from what happened to Mr. Brown, people in Texas who are arrested are entitled not to have excessive force used against them. This guarantee is pursuant to the 14^th Amendment to the United States Constitution. Further, people who are jailed in Texas county jails are entitled to receive reasonable medical care, and to be protected from themselves and others. These guarantees arise pursuant to the 14^th Amendment to the United States Constitution. If a person’s constitutional rights are violated, and the person dies as a result, then certain family members might have claims related to that death. Congress passed a federal statute, 42 U.S.C. § 1983, to allow victims of constitutional violations to obtain damages. Likewise, such relief is a deterrent to law enforcement officers and jailers from violating constitutional rights.

Tragically, 34-year-old William James Shandore died on February 19, 2021, in San Antonio, Texas, while he was an inmate at Bexar County Jail. Studies show that 27% of jail suicides occur between the second and fourteenth days of incarceration. Having committed suicide nine days after he became an inmate made Shandore a part of that disturbing statistic.

The Texas Commission on Jail Standards (TCJS) has made various changes to stop preventable suicides from occurring in Texas county jails. In a training document prepared by the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement, the following facts are shared, all of which are presented as myth-busters on the topic of suicide.

Facts That are Contrary to Common Myths About Suicide

Despite opposing myths that can create misunderstandings about custodial suicide, the following are facts that jailers need to be aware of:

• Compared to any individual who has never made an attempt at suicide, any person who has previously made one or more attempts is a far greater risk.
• Most individuals who carry out a suicidal action acted on a carefully thought-out strategy to cope with their personal problems.
• Most people who commit suicide have previously indicated their suicidal intentions through direct or indirect statements.
• When you show your concern for an individual’s welfare by discussing the possibility of suicide, speaking out about it does not and cannot make a person suicidal.

See Part 1 and Part 2 of this three-part series.

This website adds posts for the purpose of providing helpful information for Texas prisoners now or previously part of the county jail population. It is not intended on this site to make an implication of misdeeds on the part of individuals or institutions.

–Guest Contributor

William James Shandore was 34 years old when he died in the San Antonio, Texas, Bexar County Jail on February 19, 2021. He had been booked into the jail nine days earlier. Another inmate was the first to notice that Shandore was hanging in his cell.

There is a significant correlation between suicide rates and the length of time an inmate has been incarcerated. Related statistics and others are below.

Texas County Jail Suicide Statistics

• Among Texas jail suicides, 24% occur within the first 24 hours of arriving to be booked into jail.
• Another 27% of Texas jail suicides happen from the 2^nd through the 14^th day of incarceration.
• Suicide victims in Texas jails are intoxicated at the time of suicide 20% of the time.
• Among suicide victims in Texas jails, 31% of them are discovered after more than an hour has passed since the latest face-to-face observation.
• Hanging is the method used for suicide among 93% of Texas jail suicide victims.

The Texas Commission on Jail Standards (TCJS) made an impact on the number of suicides in Texas jails when the suicide screening form was implemented in 2016. In the years 2012 through 2015, the numbers of inmate suicides in the Texas jails in each year totaled 23, 25, 23, and 33, respectively. The total number of suicides in 2016, with suicide screening in place, was 17.

See Part 1 and this ongoing series.

This website adds posts for the purpose of providing helpful information for Texas inmates now or previously part of the county jail population. It is not intended on this site to make an implication of wrongdoing on the part of individuals or entities.

–Guest Contributor

The Willacy County jail, in Raymondville, Texas, has once again failed an inspection by the Texas Commission on Jail Standards (“TCJS”). The inspection occurred on June 1, 2021.

The Willacy County jail had failed an inspection occurring on December 11, 2020. The TCJS re-inspected the jail in June 2021 and found that there are still significant issues. The TCJS inspector noted that there were still concerns with preventative maintenance and sanitation. Such issues included water in inmates’ cells, water pressure in inmate housing, two shower panels that needed to be affixed to a wall, and a water mixing valve that was placed inside a shower for inmates to control.

The Llano County jail, in Llano, Texas, failed an inspection by the Texas Commission on Jail Standards (“TCJS”). The inspection occurred on June 7, 2021.

The TCJS inspector determined that, on two separate occasions in April 2021, jailers did not conduct 15-minute face-to-face observations of inmates placed in restraints. It is very important that such observations be made to assure that inmates are not in medical distress and would not thus need medical care. Hopefully, the Llano County jail will bring itself into compliance with Texas minimum jail standards.

William James Shandore was booked into Bexar County Jail in San Antonio, Texas, on February 10, 2021. Nine days later, an inmate providing water from cell to cell noticed that Shandore was hanging in his cell. A CODE 1 was initiated immediately by a deputy the inmate notified, but life-saving efforts were unsuccessful.

The Texas Commission on Jail Standards (TCJS) has included suicide prevention in the minimum jail standards that Texas county jails are required to uphold. The training of jail staff members is a big part of suicide prevention. The following is information from course guidelines for instructors provided by the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement.

Suicide Detection and Prevention in Jails

• Suicide is the number one cause of death in county jails with more than one-third of all custodial deaths resulting from suicide.
• Suicide prevention begins when an individual is arrested and continues throughout their incarceration.
• Experience proves that most jail suicides are preventable if there is proper implementation of a comprehensive prevention program.
• Essential elements of an effective suicide prevention program include the following:
  • Staff training
  • Intake screening
  • Staff communication
  • Safe and appropriate housing
  • Frequent observation of inmates
  • Prompt intervention
  • Human interaction between inmates and staff
  • The rate of suicide in jails is somewhere between 9 and 11 times higher than the suicide rate among the general population.

Learn more in this continuing series.

Posts are provided on this website as a way of giving assistance to inmates incarcerated in Texas county jails. There is no intention to suggest on this site that misdeeds on the part of persons or institutions have occurred.

–Guest Contributor

Anthony Wayne Gray’s death was reported in a Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department filing in Beaumont, Texas. The 58-year-old was booked into the Jefferson County Jail on April 13, 2021, and died approximately three weeks later on May 8. The only information about the medical care provided by the jail’s medical staff was that he was given treatment for difficulty breathing during his time in custody.

Complaints against Texas county jails are posted on the Texas Commission for Jail Standards (TCJS) website. Complaints about inmate medical care always outnumber grievances expressed about any other jail-related issues. The facts about matters such as denial of medical care in jails don’t usually become known to the general public except in cases involving a custodial death caused by illness and, allegedly, denial of medical care.

Although most complaints are about inmate health services, issues related to medical care do not come across as blatantly problematic in jail inspection reports. Considering that, there do not seem to be minimum jail standards that inspectors of Texas jails can investigate in a way that exposes denial of medical care. However, the following is an example of non-compliance in the area of jail medical services.

Texas Administrative Code, Title 37, Part 9, Chapter 273.3

This minimum jail standard specifies that the medical instructions of designated physicians must be followed. The following is the note made by the TCJS inspector on a March 2, 2021, jail inspection report:

• The inmate medical log/MARS forms that jailers completed demonstrate that medication is not being administered to inmates by the jailers as ordered by the prescribing doctors.

See Part 1 and Part 2 of this three-part series.

This website provides posts for the purpose of helping current and former prisoners in Texas county jails. There is no intention on this website to infer that people or institutions have engaged in improprieties.

–Guest Contributor