Jason Lane Lopez

CUSTODIAL DEATH REPORT Agency Information ORIGINAL CDR Number: 25-793-C Version Type: VERSION 10/3/2025 11:24 Report Date: Status: Submitted AM Agency/Facility Information Van Zandt County Agency Name: Agency Address: 1220 W. Hwy 64 Sheriff's Dept. Agency City: Canton Agency State: TX Agency Zip: 75103 Director Information Director Salutation: Sheriff Director First Name: Kevin Director Middle Name: Director Last Name: Bridger Reporter Name: Ernesto Zepeda Reporter Email: [email protected] Decedent Information Custodial Death Report :: Page 1 of 7 --- PAGE BREAK --- Identity of Deceased First Name: Jason Middle Name: Lane Last Name: Lopez Suffix: Date of Birth: 1/23/1972 Sex: Male Race: Hispanic or Latino Age At Time Of Death: 53 Date/Time of Custody (arrest, incarceration) (mm/dd/yyyy hh:mm AM/PM): Date/Time of Custody or 9/2/2025 5:56 AM Incident: Date/Time of Death (mm/dd/yyyy hh:mm AM/PM): Death Date and Time: 9/5/2025 10:59 PM 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 7 --- PAGE BREAK --- Medical Cause of Death: Medical Cause of Death: Pending Autopsy 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? 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: Other, specify Means of Death Other: Pending Autopsy Location / Custody Information Custodial Death Report :: Page 3 of 7 --- PAGE BREAK --- Where did the event causing the death occur? Street Address: 1220 W. Dallas St City: Canton County: Van_Zandt Zip: 75103 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: Police Custody Type of Custody: (pre-booking) Specific type of custody/facility: Specific Type of Custody/Facility: Custody of Law Enforcement Personnel subsequent to 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 General Information Custodial Death Report :: Page 4 of 7 --- PAGE BREAK --- 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: Resisting Arrest Offense 2: Public Intoxication 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) 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: 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) Custodial Death Report :: Page 5 of 7 --- PAGE BREAK --- 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 Yes standoff?: arrested?: Physically attempt/assault Gain possession of officer's Yes No officer(s): weapon: Verbally threaten other(s) Escape or attempt to Unknown 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 Handcuffs; Other Type of Restraint: device, specify Other device, specify: Hobble Summary of Incident Summary of How the Death Occurred: (max. 30,000 characters) Summary: Custodial Death Report :: Page 6 of 7 --- PAGE BREAK --- On Tuesday, 9-2-2025, at approximately 05:58 hours, Wills Point Officers were dispatched to Ben’s Mobil, 388 N. 4th Street, Wills Point, Van Zandt County, Texas, in reference to a Verbal Disturbance. A 911 caller reported that a white male was going ballistic by yelling, screaming and chasing everybody off from Ben’s Mobil. Wills Point Officer’s arrived and contacted the white male who was identified as Jason Lopez, white male. Officers arrested Mr. Lopez for public intoxication and transported Mr. Lopez in a Wills Point patrol vehicle to the Van Zandt County Jail. Wills Point Officers had to pull over on State Highway 64 due to Mr. Lopez being combative and resisting arrest in the patrol vehicle, which resulted in Officers fighting with Mr. Lopez. On Tuesday, 9-2-2025, at approximately 06:18 hours, Van Zandt County Sheriff’s Deputies were dispatched to the location of State Highway 64 and Van Zandt County Road 3418 on an agency assist call (Wills Point Police Dept), where police officers were needing assistance. It was reported that the police officers were fighting Mr. Lopez on the side of the road. A Van Zandt Sheriff’s Deputy arrived on scene and assisted the Wills Point Police officers. Mr. Lopez was placed into a Deputy's patrol vehicle to transport him to the Van Zandt County Jail since the Officer’s patrol vehicle did not have a transport partition to prevent officer injuries. Throughout this time, Mr. Lopez continuously resisted officers and attempted to kick them. Therefore, a hobble device was utilized to secure Mr. Lopez feet to prevent injuries to himself or the officers. A Van Zandt Sheriff’s Deputy transported Mr. Lopez to the county jail and arrived at approximately 06:34 hours. The Deputy was assisted by jail staff, Wills Point Officer’s, and other Sheriff’s Deputies to assist in removing Mr. Lopez from the Sheriff’s Office patrol vehicle, who was actively fighting Officers. As he continued to resist, officers moved Mr. Lopez from the Sheriff’s Office patrol vehicle to the book-in area of the county jail. Mr. Lopez continued to resist the officers by attempting to get loose of their grasp and thrashing his body. The officers placed Mr. Lopez on the ground so that the restraints could be removed and he could be placed in a restraint chair. During this process, Mr. Lopez suddenly stopped moving and breathing. Emergency Medical Services (EMS) were immediately called, and Jailers initiated Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR), and Jailers also utilized an Automated external defibrillator (AED) on Mr. Lopez while waiting for EMS to arrive. EMS arrived on scene and transported Mr. Lopez to the Canton Emergency Room and then later transferred to the Christus Mother Frances Hospital in Tyler, Smith County, Texas, to receive further care. Mr. Lopez passed, and his death was pronounced on Friday, 9-5-2025, at approximately 21:59 hours. Custodial Death Report :: Page 7 of 7