Dennis Ray Wasson

CUSTODIAL DEATH REPORT Agency Information ORIGINAL CDR Number: 17-190-C Version Type: VERSION 4/13/2017 11:24 Report Date: Status: Submitted AM Agency/Facility Information Texas Department Agency Name: Agency Address: PO BOX 4087 Of Public Safety Agency City: Austin Agency State: TX Agency Zip: 78773 Director Information Director Salutation: Director Director First Name: Steven Director Middle Name: Director Last Name: McCraw Joanne Reporter Name: Reporter Email: [email protected] Scarbrough Decedent Information Custodial Death Report :: Page 1 of 7 --- PAGE BREAK --- Identity of Deceased First Name: Dennis Middle Name: Ray Last Name: Wasson Suffix: Date of Birth: 7/4/1989 Sex: Male Race: Anglo or White Age At Time Of Death: 27 Date/Time of Custody (arrest, incarceration) (mm/dd/yyyy hh:mm AM/PM): Date/Time of Custody or 3/29/2017 11:30 Incident: PM Date/Time of Death (mm/dd/yyyy hh:mm AM/PM): Death Date and Time: 3/30/2017 1:08 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) Homicide (includes Custodial Death Report :: Page 2 of 7 --- PAGE BREAK --- Manner of Death: Justifiable Homicide) Medical Cause of Death: Medical Cause of Death: Pending Autopsy Results Had the decedent been receiving treatment for the medical condition that caused the death after admission to your jail's jurisdiction? Medical Treatment: Not Applicable 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? FM 1752 - North of Street Address: City: Unincorporated FM 898 County: Fannin Zip: NA What location category best describes where the event causing the death occurred? Location Category: Roadway/highway/street/sidewalk What type of custody/facility was the Decedent in at the time of death: Police Custody Type of Custody: (pre-booking) 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 Against Public Servant Offense 2: Unauthorized Use of Vehicle Offense 3: Evading Arrest or Detention 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 Against Persons; Type of Offense: Crime Against 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 Yes, mark all that weapons: apply Decedent Display or Use Used vehicle as Weapon Details: weapon At any time during the incident and/or entry into the law enforcement facility, did the decedent: Custodial Death Report :: Page 5 of 7 --- PAGE BREAK --- Yes (select all that Attempt to Injure Others?: apply) Attempted to injure law enforcement Ways Decedent Attempted To personnel; Injure Others: Attempted to injure civilian(s) or other inmate(s) 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?: Unknown drugs): Exhibit any mental health Unknown Exhibit any medical problems?: Unknown 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?: Physically attempt/assault Gain possession of officer's Yes No officer(s): weapon: Verbally threaten other(s) Escape or attempt to Unknown Yes 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: Custodial Death Report :: Page 6 of 7 --- PAGE BREAK --- On 03/29/17 at approximately 11:11 PM, a Texas DPS Trooper attempted to stop a vehicle for speeding on U.S. 82 in Fannin County. The vehicle failed to stop and a pursuit began. During the pursuit, the Trooper learned the vehicle was stolen from Paris, Lamar County, Texas. The pursuit traveled several miles over several different roadways. The Bonham Police Department (PD) and the Fannin County Sheriff’s Office (FCSO) assisted with the pursuit. FCSO eventually spiked the stolen vehicle. After the spike deployment, the stolen vehicle failed to stop and the pursuit continued on a Farm to Market (FM) Road. The Trooper pulled up close to the evading vehicle in an attempt to execute a PIT maneuver on the fleeing vehicle. The driver of the evading vehicle swerved over and rammed the patrol unit causing damage to the front left. The Trooper dropped back and pulled over on the other side of the evading vehicle and performed a successful PIT maneuver, causing the evading vehicle to spin around and was now facing the Trooper's patrol unit. The Trooper exited his patrol unit and drew his service weapon and pointed said weapon at the driver of the stolen vehicle. The driver then accelerated and began traveling directly toward a Bonham PD unit that had been assisting in the pursuit. The Bonham PD unit had to take evasive action to keep from being stuck head on by the stolen vehicle. The Trooper, fearing for the safety of the Bonham PD officer, fired his DPS issued handgun at the driver, striking the driver one time. The driver of the stolen vehicle continued driving approximately 100 yards north where he eventually drove off into the ditch on the east side of FM 1752 and stopped. The driver was sent to a hospital by Air Ambulance where he was pronounced dead at said hospital. There was a female passenger in the stolen vehicle, who was not injured, and who cooperated with the Texas Rangers, who responded to the scene and are conducting the investigation. The female passenger indicated the driver had told her he was not going to stop and she made the comment if the officer had not shot the driver, she believed she would have died due to the driver's reckless driving. A subsequent search of the stolen vehicle yielded a small quantity of marijuana and syringes, containing a clear liquid (believed to be methamphetamine). Custodial Death Report :: Page 7 of 7