Category: Medical Care

The Smith County Sheriff’s Office, in Tyler, Texas, filed a report regarding the death of apparent pre-trial detainee Charlie Humphries. Mr. Humphries was only 38 years old at the time of his death. We provide information we obtained that report, and we make no allegation of any wrongdoing against anyone.

The summary portion of the reports reads in its entirety:

“On March 23rd 2023 at approximately 2220 hours inmate Charlie Humphries was transported from the North Jail located at 2811 Public Rd Tyler, Texas to the Smith County Central Jail located at 206 E Elm Street in regards to chest pains. It was advised that inmate Humphries had fell down in N tank of the North Jail for unknown reasons and needed to seek medical attention. Upon arrival to the Central Jail inmate Humphries fell in the intake area and began having a seizure. A code blue medical emergency was called and medical personnel began providing inmate Humphries medical attention. CPR and the AED devices were deployed in attempt to restore normal vital signs and breathing. EMS were called to the scene and took over medical care from the Smith County Medical personnel, EMS attempted to restore inmate Humphries for approximately 30-35 minutes. During this time, inmate Humphries regained a pulse and was immediately transported to Christus Mother Francis Hospital in Tyler, Texas. Upon arrival to the hospital inmate Humphries lost vital signs and was advised by medical staff to have had a massive stroke. Hospital staff attempted to restore Humphries for a second time, but were unsuccessful. Inmate Humphries was later was pronounced deceased at 2348 hours. Custodial Death Report :: Page 7 of 7 Thereafter, Texas Ranger Chris Baggett was notified and arrived to investigate and process the scene at the jail. Justice of the peace James Meredith was dispatched to the hospital to conduct an inquest and later ordered the inmate to be transported by Light House Mortuary Service for an autopsy at Forensic Medical Management in Tyler, Texas.”

The report provides no additional information regarding any ongoing medical issues Mr. Humphries experienced, or why he needed to be transported from one facility to another to obtain medical treatment. The United States Constitution guarantees that pre-trial detainees in Texas jails receive reasonable medical care. If a person does not receive reasonable medical care, and dies as a result, then certain family members may be able to file a federal constitutional rights lawsuit. Our firm is handling a number of such cases across Texas.

13+ Inmates at a County Jail Outside Texas Overdose on Fentanyl in the Week Ending March 8, 2023, Continued

Continuing from where the story left off, one of the two inmates that had an overdose the following day began acting erratically. Another inmate was discovered in an unresponsive state and not breathing at approximately the same time.

Deputies said the first inmate was given Narcan. On the second inmate, lifesaving measures were taken, including cardiopulmonary resuscitation, an automated external defibrillator (AED), and administering Narcan.

The inmates and two nurses who experienced symptoms of possible fentanyl exposure were taken by ambulance to local hospitals.

The sheriff said that during the rest of that week, nine more prisoners overdosed on fentanyl, as testing has confirmed. Each of the inmates that week was provided with doses of Narcan, was taken to the hospital, and is expected to make a full recovery.

Fentanyl-Related Deaths in a Texas County

In one of the large counties in Texas, it has been reported that at least four people last year died overdosing on fentanyl. Narcan was not given to these inmates to reverse the effects of the opioid overdose.

A 64-year-old man was found by deputies vomiting at around 4 am. Hours later, they discovered him unresponsive in his cell. Medical examiners conducted an autopsy and found that he had died from the combined toxic effects of methamphetamine, heroin, and fentanyl with a non-traumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage.

Learn more in Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3 of this continuing series.

Helping Texas jail detainees and their families with resources is one of the purposes of this website. There is no intention of suggesting that people or organizations have been involved in misdeeds.

–Guest Contributor

The Cherokee County Sheriff’s Department, in Rusk, Texas, filed a report regarding the custodial death of Aiydasani Mahogany Bryant. Ms. Bryant was only 21 years old at the time of her death. We provide in this post information we obtained from that report, and we make no allegation of any wrongdoing against anyone.

The summary portion of the report reads in its entirety:

“On February 21, 2023 at 2041 while in a medical cell Bryant fell to the ground in what appears to be a medical related issue. At 20:43 correctional officers entered into the cell and began checking on Bryant. Officers attempted to get Bryant off of the floor. Once standing Bryant fell to the ground again. Officers sat Bryant up on the floor and contacted EMS. EMS arrived on scene and made contact Bryant who was still alert and talking. While speaking with EMS Bryant collapsed. EMS began life saving measures and transported Bryant to local hospital where she was eventually pronounced deceased.”

Oddly, the report contained the answer “unknown” to the following questions: appear intoxicated (alcohol or drugs); make suicidal statements; exhibit any mental health problems; and exhibit any medical problems? The report also provided no additional information regarding Ms. Bryant’s purported medical issue.

The United States Constitution requires Texas jails to provide reasonable medical care and mental health care to detainees. If a detainee in a Texas jail dies as a result of a failure to provide medical care, then certain surviving family members may be able to bring a federal civil rights lawsuit. Our Texas constitutional rights law firm is litigating a number of such cases across Texas.

The Dallas County Sheriff’s Department, in Texas, filed a report regarding the custodial death of Willie Florence Love, Jr. Mr. Love was 53 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 related to Mr. Love’s death.

The summary portion of the report reads in its entirety:

“Offender Love was under the care of medical staff at the unit due to his medical conditions. On February 22nd, 2023, Offender Love stopped breathing and was transported to Parkland Memorial Hospital where medical staff pronounced him deceased.”

Therefore, the report provides no information at all regarding Mr. Love’s purported ongoing medical issues, the treatment he was receiving, whether he had been hospitalized previously, or any other relevant information. Mr. Love should have received reasonable medical care at the Dallas County jail, because the Constitution requires it. The 14^th Amendment to the United States Constitution requires that pre-trial detainees receive reasonable medical care and mental health care. These guarantees arise from the duty of a local county jail to protect people in its care. If jailers, medical personnel, or others interacting with a person in custody fail to provide appropriate care, and the person dies as a result, then certain family members may be able to file a federal civil rights lawsuit. Our jail neglect law firm is prosecuting a number of such cases throughout Texas.

The Tarrant County Sheriff’s Office, in Fort Worth, Texas, filed a report regarding yet another custodial death of a detainee in that jail. George William Zink passed away after being incarcerated in the Tarrant County jail. While the custodial death report does not mention it, it appears that Mr. Zink may have been declared incompetent to stand trial. Our jails across Texas continue to be used to house severely mentally ill inmates. Something needs to change.

The summary portion of the custodial death report regarding Mr. Zink reads in its entirety:

“On 02/15/2023, Detention Officer T. Kolawole #76126 notified the Tarrant County Medical team that Inmate Zink had not eating lunch or dinner. RN Kwoke requested that Inmate Zink be escorted to the medical floor. Detention Officer Montiel got a wheelchair and helped Inmate Zink into the wheelchair and then escorted Inmate Zink to the medical unit to be seen by medical staff. Once in the medical unit, medical personnel requested MedStar ambulance to be contacted to transported Inmate Zink to John Peter Smith Hospital. Before the ambulance arrived, medical personnel began performing CPR on ZInk. When Fort Worth Fire Department arrived on scene, they continued chest compressions using the Lucas machine. MedStar ambulance transported Inmate Zink to John Peter Smith Hospital. At John Peter Smith Hospital at approximately 21:18 hours, Doctor H. Campbell pronounced Inmate Zink deceased. Tarrant County Medical Examiner’s office retrieved Inmate Zink from the hospital and transported him the Medical Examiner’s Office for an autopsy. As on 03/13/2023, the autopsy results are still pending.”

The report admits that Mr. Zink exhibited mental health problems. However, the report provides no information regarding any ongoing mental health and/or medical treatment Mr. Zink was receiving.

The United States Constitution requires jails to protect inmates from themselves and others. This duty to protect requires jails to provide appropriate mental health and medical care. If a jail, jailers, or medical personnel fail to provide such care, and a person dies as a result, then certain surviving family members may be able to file a federal civil rights lawsuit. Our Texas civil rights law firm is handling a number of such cases.

On January 25, 2025, at 10:18 AM, Daniel Pentkwoski was f found unresponsive in his single cell, cell CA26. Emergency measures were taken, but they failed. He was pronounced deceased at 10:34 AM by a member of the EMS.

Emmitt Earl Byrd Died After Incarceration in Bexar County Jail  

On April 21, 2022, Emmitt Earl Bird died at Bexar County Jail in San Antonio, Texas. He had been found by Officer K. Vazquez. Mr. Byrd was hanging from a sheet tied around his neck at 9:50 AM. The other end was tied around the interior of the hinge of the door. Code Blue One was called initially. 

Lifesaving measures began as soon as Mr. Vazquez cut Mr. Byrd down. Medical personnel continued lifesaving measures until Fire Department EMS arrived on the scene at 10:00 AM. He was pronounced deceased at 10:17 AM. 

During admission into the jail, Mr. Byrd made no suicidal statements. Yet he died on his fifth day. The suicide prevention training that jailers receive indicates that suicide occurs within the first month of being jailed. But suicide protocols exist only for the inmate who have indicated a tendency toward self-harm.

Per the Texas Administrative Code, each jailer is supposed to receive training on procedures for recognizing, supervising, handling, and documentation of potentially suicidal inmates.

Learn more in Part 1, Part 2, and this continuing series.   

Suggesting that misdeeds have occurred on the part of persons or institutions is never intended on this website. The purpose of each post on this site is to provide helpful resources to inmates in Texas county and municipal jails.

–Guest Contributor

On January 23, 2023,Tobe Lee Fluty, Jr. was quickly dismissed by medical personnel for the second time in two days. He had just left jail medical at Randall County Jail in Amarillo, Texas, when he fell in the hallway outside his housing unit. Deputies placed him in a wheelchair and returned him to medical. Mr. Fluty appeared to be unconscious and lifesaving measures began.

Why Sepsis Deaths are Considered Preventable

Previous installments in this series show that periodontitis leads to sepsis, which is deadly without prompt treatment. Medical experts consistently say that sepsis is treatable and preventable, including deaths caused by sepsis. However, sepsis is a leading cause of death in US hospitals.

A study was done to explore ways to decrease sepsis mortality rates. It was determined that for every hour antimicrobial treatment is delayed after the onset of hypotension, the mortality rate increases by 7.6%. It is clear that rapid initiation of appropriate antimicrobial therapy is necessary to prevent sepsis deaths.

A complication among patients is that broad-spectrum antibiotics are often used, which can be a contributing factor to antimicrobial resistance.   

As many as 80% of sepsis deaths could be prevented with quick diagnosis and appropriate treatment.

This places jail inmates at a heightened risk because jails are generally known more for delays than promptness in providing appropriate inmate medical care. The Texas Commission on Jail Standards (TCJS) reports annually that more complaints pertain to city and county jail medical care than any other topic.

Learn more in Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3 of this continuing series.

Helping inmates jailed in local Texas jurisdictions is the purpose of this site. Making accusations that persons or entities have participated in wrongdoing is never intended.

–Guest Contributor

On February 15, 2023, the Bexar County Sheriff’s Office in San Antonio, Texas, filed a custodial death report (CDR) with the Office of Attorney General regarding 53-year-old Daniel Pentkwoski. Mr. Pentkowski was booked into the jail on January 23, 2023. During intake, he appeared to be intoxicated on drugs or alcohol. The CDR indicates nothing about medical care provided to him during his brief time there.

36 Year Old Ryan Adam Legg Dies by Suicide in Bexar County Jail

Ryan Adam Legg went through intake at Bexar County Jail on March 21, 2022. Booking notes indicate that the 36 year old did not make suicidal statements at that time nor did he exhibit mental health problems. Jailers housed him in a multiple occupancy cell in the San Antonio jail located at 200 N. Comal, zip 78207.

A deputy was conducting observation checks on March 24, 2022, when he noticed Mr. Legg leaning forward at the back of the cell. Upon entering the cell, the deputy saw that a sheet was tied around Mr. Legg’s neck. The deputy cut the sheet off of him and immediately began chest compressions. The jail contacted emergency medical services and the San Antonio Fire Department arrived on the scene. Lifesaving measures continued but at 11:06 PM, a physician pronounced Mr. Legg deceased.

Learn more in Part 1 of this continuing series.

Suggesting that misdeeds have occurred on the part of persons or institutions is never intended on this website. The purpose of each post on this site is to provide helpful resources to inmates in Texas county and municipal jails.

–Guest Contributor

The Bexar County Sheriff’s Office, in San Antonio, Texas, filed a report regarding the death of Daniel Pentkwoski. Mr. Pentkwoski was 53 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.

The summary portion of the report reads in its entirety: “On 01/25/2023, at approximately 1018 hours, Inmate Pentkwoski, Daniel #XXXXXXX was found unresponsive, in his assigned housing location (cell CA26). A medical emergency was immediately initiated and life saving measures were initiated. Life saving measures were unsuccessful and Inmate Pentkwoski was pronounced deceased by EMS D. Tally.”

The report also indicates that Mr. Pentkwoski’s entry time into the jail was 7:27 p.m. on January 23, 2023, and the only listed offense was “retaliation.” The report also indicates that Mr. Pentkwoski appeared intoxicated by alcohol or drugs.

The United States Constitution requires that jailers provide reasonable medical care to detainees in Texas jails. If jailers fail to do so, and they are deliberately indifferent and/or act in an objectively unreasonable manner, and a person dies or is seriously injured as a result, then claims in a federal lawsuit may be appropriate. The Constitution protects all of us, whether we are incarcerated or not.

The Taylor County Sheriff’s Office, in Abilene, Texas, filed a report regarding the custodial death of Thomas Ervin Gregory. Mr. Gregory was 62 years old at the time of his death. We provide information we obtained from that document, and we make no allegation of wrongdoing against anyone related to Mr. Gregory’s death.

The summary portion of the report reads in its entirety: “On February 22, 2023, at 2107 detainee Thomas Gregory was placed in a detox cell after being removed from the Emergency Restraint Chair. Earlier on this date there was a use of force where pepper spray was deployed due to him being combative and resistive towards staff. Gregory had not been booked due to his uncooperative behavior. All checks were conducted on him within 30 minutes at the detox cell. At approximately 2200 hours, Officer Wade observed that Gregory was laying on his side and not moving. The Officer entered the cell and observed that Gregory did not appear to be breathing and medical assistance was called. Lifesaving techniques were started by the use of the AED and CPR. Emergency Medical Services was also requested. At approximately 2207 hours, EMS and the Fire Department arrived. They relieved our staff and took over lifesaving techniques. At 2238 they determined that Gregory was deceased, and nothing further could be done. Texas Ranger Josh Burson was notified to conduct the investigation, and Justice of the Peace ordered an autopsy. Results are pending.”

Moreover, the report indicates that Mr. Gregory was arrested for criminal trespass.

The Constitution requires that jailers and others not use excessive force, and also provide reasonable medical and mental health care when necessary. If jailers or others who have custody of a person in a Texas jail fail to meet constitutional standards, and a person dies as a result, then certain family members may be able to bring constitutional rights claims. Our law firm is litigating a number of such cases across Texas.