Darius Tarver

CUSTODIAL DEATH REPORT Agency Information ORIGINAL CDR Number: 20-196-UF Version Type: VERSION Report Date: 3/3/2020 11:49 AM Status: Submitted Agency/Facility Information 601 E. Hickory, Agency Name: Denton Police Dept. Agency Address: Suite E Agency City: Denton Agency State: TX Agency Zip: 76205 Director Information Director Salutation: Chief Director First Name: Frank Director Middle Name: Director Last Name: Dixon Reporter Name: Frank Dixon Reporter Email: [email protected] Decedent Information Custodial Death Report :: Page 1 of 7 --- PAGE BREAK --- Identity of Deceased First Name: Darius Middle Name: Last Name: Tarver Suffix: Date of Birth: 9/13/1996 Sex: Male Black or African Race: American Age At Time Of Death: 23 Date/Time of Custody (arrest, incarceration) (mm/dd/yyyy hh:mm AM/PM): Date/Time of Custody or 1/21/2020 2:58 AM Incident: Date/Time of Death (mm/dd/yyyy hh:mm AM/PM): Death Date and Time: 1/21/2020 4:16 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 are Evaluation?: available What was the manner of death? (select only one) Homicide (includes Manner of Death: Justifiable Custodial Death Report :: Page 2 of 7 --- PAGE BREAK --- Homicide) Medical Cause of Death: Medical Cause of Death: Gunshot wounds to chest. 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? Law Who caused the death?: enforcement/correctional personnel 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 Handgun death?: Was the cause of death the result of a pre-existing medical condition or did the decedent develop the condition after admission? Not Applicable; cause of death was Pre existing medical accidental injury, condition?: intoxication, suicide or homicide If death was an accident, homicide or suicide, what was the means of death? Means of Death: Firearm Custodial Death Report :: Page 3 of 7 --- PAGE BREAK --- Location / Custody Information Where did the event causing the death occur? Street Address: 201 Inman St. City: Denton County: Denton Zip: 76205 What location category best describes where the event causing the death occurred? Location Category: Other, specify Other Location Category: Apartment complex stairway What type of custody/facility was the Decedent in at the time of death: Pre-Custodial Use Type of Custody: of Force Specific type of custody/facility: Specific Type of Custody/Facility: Custody of Law Enforcement Personnel during/fleeing arrest 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: Entry Date Time N/A: Where did the death occur? Death Location: Medical facility Custodial Death Report :: Page 4 of 7 --- PAGE BREAK --- General Information Did any other law enforcement agencies respond to calls for service related to this incident? Other Agencies Respond?: Yes 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: Aggravated assault on a peace officer. Offense 2: Offense 3: Not filed at time of Were the Charges:: death What were the types of charges or reason for contact? (Hold CTRL to select all that apply) Violent Crime Type of Offense: Against Persons 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 Yes, mark all that weapons: apply Displayed other Decedent Display or Use weapon, specify:; Weapon Details: Used other weapon, specify: Specify Weapon Displayed: Custodial Death Report :: Page 5 of 7 --- PAGE BREAK --- Meat cleaver and frying pan Specify Weapon Used: While swinging meat cleaver, an officer was cut along top right shoulder. Decedent also attempted to assault officers with a frying pan. At any time during the incident and/or entry into the law enforcement facility, did the decedent: Yes (select all that Attempt to Injure Others?: apply) Injured law enforcement Ways Decedent Attempted To personnel; Injure Others: Attempted to injure law enforcement personnel 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 Yes 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 Yes standoff?: arrested?: Physically attempt/assault Gain possession of officer's Yes 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 Custodial Death Report :: Page 6 of 7 --- PAGE BREAK --- Summary of Incident Summary of How the Death Occurred: (max. 30,000 characters) Summary: Denton police officers were dispatched to 201 Inman after several 911 callers reported a black male carrying a large knife and frying pan was knocking out lighting fixtures and banging on apartment doors. A caller reported that the subject was yelling for someone to "open the door." Upon arrival, officers located the subject on the second floor landing. One officer attempted to make verbal contact with him, and asked the subject to walk down the stairwell to him. When asked if he had any weapons on his person, the subject replied, "come up here and find out." The subject then entered into an apartment, while 3 officers stayed on the ground floor, one on one side of the stairwell, and two on the other. A fourth officer walked back to their patrol unit to make contact with a 911 caller. While they were on the phone attempting to gain information, the subject emerged from their apartment, and walked down the stairwell towards the two officers. Officers observed the subject to be holding a frying pan and a large knife, that was actually a large meat cleaver, in the same hand. Officers attempted to gain verbal compliance, backing to give themselves some distance. Once the officers felt they were not going to gain verbal compliance, one officer discharged his Taser. The subject immediately reacted to the Taser deployment by dropping the frying pan and charging at the officers while swinging the meat cleaver. As the subject made physical contact with one officer, the other discharged his duty weapon, striking the subject, who fell to the ground on his back. Once on his back, the third officer approached and kicked the meat cleaver, which had fallen immediately behind his head, away. The subject reacted by immediately jumping to his feet and going to retrieve the frying pan. At this point the same officer who previously deployed his Taser, deployed it a second time, causing little to no effect. The subject grabbed the frying pan and began advancing towards the two officers with the pan raised over his head. As the subject closed in on the officers, while they were attempting to move away and create distance, the same officer who previously discharged his firearm, discharged it again, two times, striking the subject. The subject fell to the ground, and medical aid was summoned. Despite life saving measures, the subject was pronounced deceased at Medical City-Denton. Custodial Death Report :: Page 7 of 7