Byron James Sessions

CUSTODIAL DEATH REPORT Agency Information CDR Number: 17-203-CJ Version Type: AMENDED Report Date: 11/6/2020 1:43 PM Status: Submitted Agency/Facility Information Jefferson County Agency Name: Agency Address: PO BOX 3522 Sheriff's Dept. Agency City: Beaumont Agency State: TX Agency Zip: 77704 Director Information Director Salutation: Sheriff Director First Name: Zena Director Middle Name: Director Last Name: Stephens Reporter Name: Zena Stephens Reporter Email: [email protected] Decedent Information Identity of Deceased Custodial Death Report :: Page 1 of 6 --- PAGE BREAK --- First Name: Byron Middle Name: James Last Name: Sessions Suffix: N/A Date of Birth: 3/2/1984 Sex: Male Race: Anglo or White Age At Time Of Death: 33 Date/Time of Custody (arrest, incarceration) (mm/dd/yyyy hh:mm AM/PM): Date/Time of Custody or 3/18/2017 9:15 AM Incident: Date/Time of Death (mm/dd/yyyy hh:mm AM/PM): Death Date and Time: 3/18/2017 9:15 AM Manner / Cause of Death Has a medical examiner or coroner conducted an evaluation to determine a cause of death? Medical Examiner/Coroner Yes, results Evaluation?: pending What was the manner of death? (select only one) Pending autopsy Manner of Death: results Custodial Death Report :: Page 2 of 6 --- PAGE BREAK --- Medical Cause of Death: Medical Cause of Death: Pending toxicology Had the decedent been receiving treatment for the medical condition that caused the death after admission to your jail's jurisdiction? Medical Treatment: No If death was an accident, homicide or suicide, who caused the death? Who caused the death?: Not applicable If a weapon caused the death, what type of weapon caused the death? (Hold CTRL to select all that apply) Type of weapon that caused Not Applicable death?: Was the cause of death the result of a pre-existing medical condition or did the decedent develop the condition after admission? Pre existing medical Could not be condition?: determined If death was an accident, homicide or suicide, what was the means of death? Means of Death: Unknown Location / Custody Information Where did the event causing the death occur? Street Address: 5030 Hwy 69 South City: Beaumont Custodial Death Report :: Page 3 of 6 --- PAGE BREAK --- County: Jefferson Zip: 77705 What location category best describes where the event causing the death occurred? Law Enforcement Location Category: Facility What type of custody/facility was the Decedent in at the time of death: Type of Custody: County Jail Specific type of custody/facility: Specific Type of Custody/Facility: Jail - day room/recreation area What was the time and date of the deceased's entry into the law enforcement facility where the death occurred (mm/dd/yyyy hh:mm AM/PM): Entry Date Time: 3/18/2017 9:15 AM Where did the death occur? Law enforcement Death Location: facility/booking center General Information Did any other law enforcement agencies respond to calls for service related to this incident? Other Agencies Respond?: No Custodial Death Report :: Page 4 of 6 --- PAGE BREAK --- What were the most serious offense(s) with which the deceased was (or would have been) charged with at the time of death? Offense 1: Criminal Trespass Offense 2: Offense 3: Were the Charges:: Filed What were the types of charges or reason for contact? (Hold CTRL to select all that apply) Crime Against Type of Offense: Property At any time during the incident and/or entry into the law enforcement facility, did the decedent display or use a weapon? Decedent display/use of No weapons: At any time during the incident and/or entry into the law enforcement facility, did the decedent: Attempt to Injure Others?: No At any time during the incident and/or entry into the law enforcement facility, did the decedent: Appear intoxicated (alcohol or Yes Make suicidal statements?: No drugs): Exhibit any mental health No Exhibit any medical problems?: No problems?: At any time during the incident and/or entry into the law enforcement facility, did the decedent: Barricade self or initiate Resist being handcuffed or No No standoff?: arrested?: Custodial Death Report :: Page 5 of 6 --- PAGE BREAK --- Physically attempt/assault No Gain possession of officer's No officer(s): weapon: Verbally threaten other(s) Escape or attempt to No No including law: escape/flee custody: Attempt gain possession No officer's weapon: Was the deceased under restraint in the time leading up to the death or the events causing the death? Under Restraint: No Summary of Incident Summary of How the Death Occurred: (max. 30,000 characters) Summary: On 3/17/17, the Decedent was at the local Wal-Mart, committing theft and huffing duster spray. Decedent was transported to the local Medical Facility for treatment for symptoms related to huffing. He left the treatment center against medical staff opinion. He was served with a criminal trespass warning, forbidding his return to the property. On 03/18/17 Decedent violated the trespass warning and returned to the property resulting in his arrest. He was arrested by the Port Arthur Police Department for the Class B misdemeanor offense of Criminal Trespass. At the time of his arrest he had in his possession two (2) aerosol cans. He was then transported to the Jefferson County Correctional Facility, located at 5030 Hwy 69 South, Beaumont, Texas. Upon arrival at the Correctional Facility decedent was received by staff and was screened by medical staff. Decedent reeked with the smell of urine and asked to take a shower. As per County protocol decedent was immediately escorted to the men's change out room to be showered and placed in a county jumper. At the completion of the change out process decedent was issued orange county slippers and bent over to place them on his feet and fell to the floor and reportedly started to have seizure activity. He loss consciousness as life saving maneuvers were implemented. EMS was notified and arrived, taking over resuscitation protocol. Decedent was pronounced at approximately 10:20 am. by Justice of the Peace #7 Brad Burnett. Justice Burnett ordered an autopsy. Pathologist John. W. Ralston, MD, completed the autopsy on 3/20/17. Findings were 1) Cardiomegaly, 575g. 2) Hypertensive cardiovascular disease with left ventricular hypertrophy of the heart, 1.8 cm. 3) Nephrosclerosis of the kidneys. 4) Pending toxicology. Preliminary cause of death: Pending toxicology. Preliminary manner of death: Pending toxicology. Custodial Death Report :: Page 6 of 6