John David Snell

CUSTODIAL DEATH REPORT Agency Information CDR Number: 23-1237-CJ Version Type: AMENDED Report Date: 9/19/2023 1:56 PM Status: Submitted Agency/Facility Information Garza County Agency Name: Agency Address: 412 E. 15th Sheriff's Office Agency City: Post Agency State: TX Agency Zip: 79356 Director Information Director Salutation: Sheriff Director First Name: Terry Director Middle Name: Director Last Name: Morgan Michael Reporter Name: Reporter Email: [email protected] Copeland Decedent Information Custodial Death Report :: Page 1 of 6 --- PAGE BREAK --- Identity of Deceased First Name: John Middle Name: David Last Name: Snell Suffix: Date of Birth: 6/12/1972 Sex: Male Race: Anglo or White Age At Time Of Death: 51 Date/Time of Custody (arrest, incarceration) (mm/dd/yyyy hh:mm AM/PM): Date/Time of Custody or 6/24/2023 2:45 PM Incident: Date/Time of Death (mm/dd/yyyy hh:mm AM/PM): Death Date and Time: 7/12/2023 3:09 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 are Evaluation?: available What was the manner of death? (select only one) Manner of Death: Accidental Custodial Death Report :: Page 2 of 6 --- PAGE BREAK --- Medical Cause of Death: Medical Cause of Death: Subdural Hematoma Had the decedent been receiving treatment for the medical condition that caused the death after admission to your jail's jurisdiction? Medical Treatment: Yes 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? 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: Other, specify Inmate fell and hit Means of Death Other: his head on the wall. Custodial Death Report :: Page 3 of 6 --- PAGE BREAK --- Location / Custody Information Where did the event causing the death occur? Street Address: 412 East 15th City: Post County: Garza Zip: 79356 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 - detox 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): Entry Date Time: 6/20/2023 2:56 PM Where did the death occur? Death Location: Medical facility General Information Custodial Death Report :: Page 4 of 6 --- 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: VIOL BOND/PROTECTIVE ORDER 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 Yes Make suicidal statements?: No drugs): Exhibit any mental health No Exhibit any medical problems?: No problems?: Custodial Death Report :: Page 5 of 6 --- PAGE BREAK --- 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 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 Saturday June 24, 2023, approximately 17:00 hours, inmate John D. Snell was found unresponsive in cell 188. Sergeant Perez entered cell 188 and called inmate Snell's name several times with getting no response from him. Sergeant Perez tried multiple times to wake inmate Snell up but was unsuccessful. Sergeant Perez exited cell 188 to call for EMS. At approximately 17:20, EMS arrives at the facility and takes control of the situation. At approximately 17:35, inmate Snell is loaded into the ambulance and taken to Covenant Hospital in Lubbock. At approximately 19:00, the Neurologist from Covenant Hospital calls Captain Copeland inquiring about a traumatic injury to the right side of inmate Snell's brain. The Neurologist stated that it seems inmate Snell was in a fight or something. Captain Copeland stated that inmate Snell was in a detox cell by himself. At approximately 21:00, Sergeant Perez informed Captain Copeland that after reviewing the camera in cell 188, that at approximately 14:40, inmate Snell had passed out and hit his head on the wall in the cell. Sergeant Perez stated that inmate Snell called on the emergency intercom and stated he needed medicine for a headache at approximately 15:14. On Sunday June 25, 2023, the neurologist at Covenant Hospital stated that he did not think inmate Snell was going to recover for his injury and stating that his brain was swelled for too long before the surgery. At approximately 14:30, Borden County Judge signed an order to release from custody for inmate Snell so his family could take over the direction on his care. On July 12, 2023, the Medical Examiner's Office in Lubbock, Texas informed Garza County that Mr. Snell had passed away at 15:09 that day. Custodial Death Report :: Page 6 of 6