Donald Oscar Cruz

CUSTODIAL DEATH REPORT Agency Information CDR Number: 20-1715-CJ Version Type: AMENDED Report Date: 4/27/2021 2:59 PM Status: Submitted Agency/Facility Information Nueces County Agency Name: Agency Address: PO BOX 1940 Sheriff's Office Agency City: Corpus Christi Agency State: TX Agency Zip: 78403 Director Information Director Salutation: Sheriff Director First Name: John Director Middle Name: Director Last Name: Hooper Reporter Name: Martin Arnold Reporter Email: [email protected] Decedent Information Identity of Deceased Custodial Death Report :: Page 1 of 6 --- PAGE BREAK --- First Name: Donald Middle Name: Oscar Last Name: Cruz Suffix: Date of Birth: 12/23/1971 Sex: Male Race: Hispanic or Latino Age At Time Of Death: 48 Date/Time of Custody (arrest, incarceration) (mm/dd/yyyy hh:mm AM/PM): Date/Time of Custody or 11/13/2020 2:24 Incident: AM Date/Time of Death (mm/dd/yyyy hh:mm AM/PM): 11/18/2020 6:20 Death Date and Time: 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: Natural Custodial Death Report :: Page 2 of 6 --- PAGE BREAK --- Medical Cause of Death: Medical Cause of Death: Medical Complications 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? Unknown whether Who caused the death?: decedent sustained a fatal injury 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 6 --- PAGE BREAK --- Street Address: 901 Leopard Street City: Corpus Christi County: Nueces Zip: 78401 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 - multiple occupancy 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): 11/13/2020 2:24 Entry Date Time: 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?: Yes 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: Poss CS PG1 < 1G Offense 2: Tampering/Fabricating Physical Evidence w/ Intent to Impair Offense 3: Evading Arrest/Detention Were the Charges:: Filed What were the types of charges or reason for contact? (Hold CTRL to select all that apply) Alcohol / drug Type of Offense: offense 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?: Unknown 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 Custodial Death Report :: Page 5 of 6 --- PAGE BREAK --- standoff?: No arrested?: No Physically attempt/assault Gain possession of officer's No 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 Wednesday November 18, 2020 at 0559 hrs, a 35U (Unknown Medical Emergency) was called in unit 4R Cell #21 of the Nueces County Jail by Correctional Officer Nathaniel Armadillo. Correctional Officers Nathaniel Armadillo and Angel Salinas were passing out breakfast trays and discovered inmate Donald Cruz unresponsive on the lower bunk; they both observed that he did not appear to be breathing and had foam on his mouth. Both Officers attempted to awaken inmate Cruz until Nurses Cassie Guzman and Janet Cordero arrived at 0602 hrs. Nurses Guzman and Cordero performed life saving measures with CPR until Nurse Sandra Nuss arrived with an AED Device. After the AED Device was attached the Nurses continued with CPR and life saving measures. During this time Nurse Nuss ordered Sgt. Zachary Syler to call 911. At 0618 hrs, Corpus Christi Fire Department Medic Unit 1 arrived in the unit. At 0620 hrs EMS staff stated that inmate Cruz had flatlined and pronounced him deceased. CCFD Medic 1 departed the facility at 0630 hrs. Inmate Cruz’s body was secured in 4R Cell #21 under guard. At 0622 hrs, Captain Patrick Whitmore (On-Call Jail Captain) and Lt. Eduardo Nunez (CID) were notified of the death in custody. Shortly thereafter Captain Whitmore, Lt. Nunez and CID Sgt. Marilyn King arrived. Captain Whitmore provided copies of all booking file and shift paperwork to Lt. Nunez. At 0847 hrs, Sgt. King and Texas Ranger Cody Lankford accessed Cell #21 to take photographs. At 0854 hrs, Medical Examiners Officer Staff Diana Ybanez, Sophia Bayder and Veronica Vaiz arrived and departed with inmate Cruz’ body at 0915 hrs. Custodial Death Report :: Page 6 of 6