Joseph C Buckley

CUSTODIAL DEATH REPORT Agency Information ORIGINAL CDR Number: PA16034C Version Type: VERSION Report Date: 2/3/2016 5:25 PM Status: Submitted Agency/Facility Information Agency Name: Terrell Police Dept. Agency Address: 201 E. Nash St. Agency City: Terrell Agency State: TX Agency Zip: 75160 Director Information Director Salutation: Chief Director First Name: Jody Director Middle Name: L. Director Last Name: Lay Reporter Name: Sgt. S.A. Kepner Reporter Email: [email protected] Decedent Information Identity of Deceased Custodial Death Report :: Page 1 of 7 --- PAGE BREAK --- First Name: Joseph Middle Name: C Last Name: Buckley Suffix: Date of Birth: 8/12/1990 Sex: Male Race: Age At Time Of Death: 25 Date/Time of Custody (arrest, incarceration) (mm/dd/yyyy hh:mm AM/PM): Date/Time of Custody or 1/7/2016 1:11 PM Incident: Date/Time of Death (mm/dd/yyyy hh:mm AM/PM): Death Date and Time: 1/7/2016 3:05 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: Suicide Custodial Death Report :: Page 2 of 7 --- PAGE BREAK --- Medical Cause of Death: Medical Cause of Death: gunshot wounds of the abdomen 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? Not applicable; cause of death was Who caused the death?: suicide, intoxication or illness/natural causes 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 Location / Custody Information Custodial Death Report :: Page 3 of 7 --- PAGE BREAK --- Where did the event causing the death occur? Street Address: 301 Tanger Drive City: Terrell County: Kaufman Zip: What location category best describes where the event causing the death occurred? Location Category: 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: Hospital/Infirmary 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: At 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?: 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: Unlawfully Carrying a Weapon-Firearm Offense 2: Possibly Suicidal Individual 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) Type of 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 weapons: At any time during the incident and/or entry into the law enforcement facility, did the decedent: Attempt to Injure Others?: At any time during the incident and/or entry into the law enforcement facility, did the decedent: Appear intoxicated (alcohol or No Make suicidal statements?: drugs): Exhibit any mental health Exhibit any medical problems?: problems?: 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: Barricade self or initiate Resist being handcuffed or No standoff?: arrested?: Physically attempt/assault Gain possession of officer's officer(s): weapon: Verbally threaten other(s) Escape or attempt to including law: escape/flee custody: Attempt gain possession officer's weapon: Was the deceased under restraint in the time leading up to the death or the events causing the death? Under Restraint: Yes Summary of Incident Summary of How the Death Occurred: (max. 30,000 characters) Summary: On Thursday January 7, 2016 at approximately 1300 hours, Captain Ken McKeown and Captain Arley Sansom where entering the parking lot of Tanger Outlet Mall after leaving McDonalds for lunch. McKeown was driving Terrell Police unit 32132 a Grey unmarked GMC Yukon equipped with police radio and emergency lights and siren. Sansom was seated in the front passenger seat. Sansom was wearing a Terrell Police Patrol uniform and McKeown was in plain clothes wearing a Terrell police badge suspended from a cord around his neck. Terrell Police Dispatch, at approximately 1306 hours, broadcast by radio that a call was holding in reference to a suspicious person, behind the Applebee's restaurant, located at 341 Tanger Drive. Dispatch then advised that the caller stated that she saw a male hiding a gun under his sleeve. The male then produced the gun from under his sleeve and held it with his hand. Caller saw that the male then drove around the area and parked behind Applebee's restaurant. The male drove a maroon Ford passenger vehicle. Caller described the male as a white male, approximately 25 years of age, with reddish/blonde hair and wearing a gray zip-up jacket. The caller further advised that the male walked around her vehicle with his face contorted in a downcast manner. Upon hearing the broadcast from Terrell Police Dispatch, McKeown radioed that he was in the area and would respond to the call. McKeown then drove to the area of Applebee's and checked for the suspicious person in a maroon Ford. McKeown was not able to locate a vehicle matching the description with a white male subject inside. McKeown radioed Terrell Police dispatch that he was unable to locate the vehicle and would remain in the area checking the Tanger Mall parking lot. McKeown heard Terrell Police units Sanchez and Melton check enroute to the call. McKeown and Sansom continued to search the parking lot of the mall when Sansom reported to McKeown that he had seen a maroon sedan pulling into a handicapped parking spot in front of Rue 21. McKeown drove to the area of Rue 21 and he and Sansom observed a maroon Ford sedan parked in the first handicapped spot facing east. As McKeown slowly drove past the vehicle on its passenger side, McKeown and Sansom were able to clearly see a young white male who appeared to be in distress. His face was contorted. McKeown, seeing two other Terrell Police patrol units also searching the parking area of the mall, broadcast by radioed that he had located a subject matching the suspicious person call in front of Rue 21. McKeown drove past the vehicle circling in behind it to get into a better position to make contact with the subject. Captain Sansom decided he would make contact with the subject because he was wearing a police uniform and McKeown would back him up. Sansom exited the Custodial Death Report :: Page 6 of 7 --- PAGE BREAK --- unmarked Yukon and approached the driver's side of the suspect vehicle while McKeown radioed in the license plate and description of the car. Sansom kept a unoccupied vehicle between the subject and him for cover. Sansom asked the subject, "You okay?" The subject nodded and said "Yeah". Sansom then moved to the front of the cover vehicle to gain a better view of the subject. Sansom said the window was down on the subjects vehicle and his hands were not visible. Sansom asked, "Would you mind stepping out of the vehicle for me?" The subject again said, "Yeah". The subject then raised his right hand that was holding a dark colored handgun and discharged it as he raised it. Sansom then drew his service weapon from his holster and fired one round at the subject. Officers Sanchez and Melton arrived at their location at this time. The subject then began to move and he was ordered, "Do not move!" The subject complied. The subject moved several more times and was given the same command and he complied. A few moments later he appeared to lose consciousness and stopped moving but was still breathing. Sansom and Sanchez then provided cover as McKeown and Melton approached the vehicle and took the subject out of the driver's door of the vehicle and strait to the ground. The subject was secured for the safety of the officers, the public and himself. The suspect was attended to by EMS and First Responders at the scene and transported to Parkland Hospital by CareFlight helicopter. The suspect was pronounced dead after arriving at the hospital. The Texas Department of Public Safety, Ranger V. Patton, responded to the scene and began an investigation. The investigation revealed that the suspect was Joseph Buckley, 25, from Georgia. Buckley was a missing person from Savannah Chatham Metropolitan Police indicating Buckley may pose a threat to himself or others and the public should avoid approaching him if they see him. HE was reported to be suffering from PTSD. Buckley was driving a red 2004 Ford Taurus bearing Georgia license plate QAP8516. It was also later determined that Buckley suffered two self-inflicted gunshot wounds to the lower chest/upper abdomen area that resulted in his death. The round fired by Captain Sansom struck the upper part of the driver's door and did not penetrate into the cabin area of the car or strike Buckley. Buckley was transferred to the Southwest Institute of Forensic Science for an autopsy. The autopsy report is pending. Captain Sansom did fire one round at Buckley but did not strike him or cause any injury. Buckley did die while in the custody of the Terrell Police Department. Therefore we are completing an In-Custody Death Report but not an Officer Involved Shooting Report. 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