Dawn Danielle Dressel

CUSTODIAL DEATH REPORT Agency Information CDR Number: 25-1055-MJ Version Type: AMENDED 12/29/2025 1:03 Report Date: Status: Submitted PM Agency/Facility Information Harlingen Police Agency Name: Agency Address: 1018 Fair Park Blvd Dept. Agency City: Harlingen Agency State: TX Agency Zip: 78550 Director Information Director Salutation: Chief Director First Name: Michael Director Middle Name: Director Last Name: Kester Reporter Name: Jaime Palafox Reporter Email: [email protected] Decedent Information Custodial Death Report :: Page 1 of 7 --- PAGE BREAK --- Identity of Deceased First Name: Dawn Middle Name: Danielle Last Name: Dressel Suffix: Date of Birth: 10/6/1979 Sex: Female Race: Anglo or White Age At Time Of Death: 46 Date/Time of Custody (arrest, incarceration) (mm/dd/yyyy hh:mm AM/PM): Date/Time of Custody or 11/30/2025 10:23 Incident: PM Date/Time of Death (mm/dd/yyyy hh:mm AM/PM): Death Date and Time: 12/1/2025 3:02 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) Manner of Death: Accidental Custodial Death Report :: Page 2 of 7 --- PAGE BREAK --- Medical Cause of Death: Medical Cause of Death: Acute cocaine toxity Had the decedent been receiving treatment for the medical condition that caused the death after admission to your jail's jurisdiction? Medical Treatment: Unknown 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? Custodial Death Report :: Page 3 of 7 --- PAGE BREAK --- Street Address: 1018 Fairpark Blvd City: Harlingen County: Cameron Zip: 78550 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: Municipal Jail Specific type of custody/facility: Specific Type of Custody/Facility: Jail - holding cell 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): 11/30/2025 11:47 Entry Date Time: PM Where did the death occur? Death Location: Medical facility General Information Did any other law enforcement agencies respond to calls for service related to this incident? Other Agencies Respond?: Yes Custodial Death Report :: Page 4 of 7 --- 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: Aggravated Robbery 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) 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 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 Unknown Make suicidal statements?: No drugs): Exhibit any mental health Unknown Exhibit any medical problems?: Yes 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 7 --- 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? Yes, mark which Under Restraint: restraint devices were used Type of restraint Type of Restraint: Handcuffs Summary of Incident Summary of How the Death Occurred: (max. 30,000 characters) Summary: On 11/30/2025 at about 10:23 pm, Dawn Danielle Dressel (10/06/1979) was arrested by the San Benito Police Department for an outstanding Aggravated Robbery (1st degree Felony) warrant from the Harlingen Police Department. Harlingen Officer G. Ruiz # 4996 responded to 311 W. Robertson Street in San Benito, Texas and at approximately 10:48 pm he took custody of Ms. Dressel. San Benito Officer Rodriguez advised that Ms. Dressel was laying down on the back seat of the car and just started showing signs of difficulty breathing. Harlingen Officer G. Ruiz placed Ms. Dressel under arrest and drove her directly to Valley Baptist Medical center located 1725 N. Ed Carey drive for medical treatment. At approximately 11:39 pm, Ms. Dressel was discharged from the emergency room and was diagnosed with anxiety and a panic attack. She was referred to primary care physician for a follow up within the next 3-5 days. Ms. Dressel was medically cleared for incarceration. On 11/30/2025 at 11:47 pm, Officer Ruiz and Ms. Dressel arrived at the Harlingen Police Department jail where she was booked for her pending warrant. Prior to walking Ms. Dressel to her cell, she was given the opportunity to make a phone call. While on the phone she underwent a what appeared to be a medical episode and was not responding to verbal commands. She was then placed on her side (recovery position) and EMS was summoned to assist her. EMS arrived at the Harlingen City jail where CPR was administered immediately, and she was then taken to Valley Baptist Medical Center emergency room for further medical treatment. During her medical evaluation, medical staff removed two glass pipes from inside her vagina. The glass pipes had burnt ends and white rocklike substances (believed to be crack cocaine) on ends of the pipes. On December 1, 2025, at 3:02 am, Ms. Dressel was pronounced deceased by emergency room doctors. Custodial Death Report :: Page 6 of 7 --- PAGE BREAK --- Custodial Death Report :: Page 7 of 7