Second man dies in custody at Tarrant County Jail this week, officials say
A man died in custody after experiencing a medical emergency at the Tarrant County Jail on Tuesday, officials with the Sheriff’s Office said in a statement.
The 40-year-old man was found kneeling unresponsive by his bed during routine checks, according to the statement. After a detention officer entered his cell and found him to be experiencing a medical emergency, jail staff initiated lifesaving measures until medical personnel arrived.
The man, who had been arrested by Fort Worth police on a charge of marijuana possession, was taken to John Peter Smith Hospital, where he later died, officials said. The Tarrant County Medical Examiner’s Office will identify him once his next-of-kin have been notified.
The 40-year-old is the second man this week to die in the custody of the Tarrant County Sheriff’s Office. On Monday, James Kent Johnson, also 40, of River Oaks, died after experiencing a medical emergency in his cell.
Both deceased men refused to cooperate with a medical screening usually administered to all persons in custody upon their booking, the Sheriff’s Office said.
“Many individuals entering our facility arrive with significant, long‐term health issues related to substance abuse or other medical conditions,” a spokesperson for the Sheriff’s Office said. “Our staff works diligently to identify medical and mental‐health concerns through our screening process the moment someone comes into our custody.”
“However, even with these efforts, we cannot compel individuals to follow the medical guidance provided by the doctors and nurses from John Peter Smith Hospital,” the statement reads. “We remain committed to offering appropriate care and ensuring every person in our custody is treated with professionalism and dignity.”
The deaths of both men will be reviewed by multiple agencies, including the Texas Commission on Jail Standards and the Texas Attorney General’s Office.
