Joseph Ronald Russell

CUSTODIAL DEATH REPORT Agency Information ORIGINAL CDR Number: 26-577-CJ Version Type: VERSION Report Date: 7/30/2026 1:57 PM Status: Submitted Agency/Facility Information Cherokee County Agency Name: Agency Address: 272 Underwood St. Sheriff's Dept. Agency City: Rusk Agency State: TX Agency Zip: 75785 Director Information Director Salutation: Sheriff Director First Name: Brent Director Middle Name: Director Last Name: Dickson Reporter Name: Brent Dickson Reporter Email: [email protected] Decedent Information Custodial Death Report :: Page 1 of 6 --- PAGE BREAK --- Identity of Deceased First Name: Joseph Middle Name: Ronald Last Name: Russell Suffix: Date of Birth: 1/1/1977 Sex: Male Black or African Race: American Age At Time Of Death: 49 Date/Time of Custody (arrest, incarceration) (mm/dd/yyyy hh:mm AM/PM): Date/Time of Custody or 4/3/2026 12:00 AM Incident: Date/Time of Death (mm/dd/yyyy hh:mm AM/PM): Death Date and Time: 7/29/2026 6:35 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 6 --- PAGE BREAK --- Medical Cause of Death: Medical Cause of Death: pending 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? 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? Pre existing medical Could not be condition?: determined If death was an accident, homicide or suicide, what was the means of death? Not applicable, cause of death was Means of Death: illness/natural cause Location / Custody Information Custodial Death Report :: Page 3 of 6 --- PAGE BREAK --- Where did the event causing the death occur? Street Address: 272 UNDERWOOD City: RUSK County: Cherokee Zip: 75785 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 - single 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: Entry Date Time N/A: Where did the death occur? Law enforcement Death Location: facility/booking center 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?: No 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: Possession of a controlled substance X2 Offense 2: Assault on a public servants and harassments of a public servant (occurred while in the jail facility) Offense 3: Tampering / fabricating evidence Were the Charges:: Filed What were the types of charges or reason for contact? (Hold CTRL to select all that apply) Violent Crime Against Persons; Type of Offense: Alcohol / drug 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 Unknown weapons: At any time during the incident and/or entry into the law enforcement facility, did the decedent: Attempt to Injure Others?: Unknown 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 Custodial Death Report :: Page 5 of 6 --- PAGE BREAK --- problems?: Yes Exhibit any medical problems?: Unknown 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 Unknown standoff?: arrested?: Physically attempt/assault Gain possession of officer's Unknown Unknown officer(s): weapon: Verbally threaten other(s) Escape or attempt to Unknown Unknown including law: escape/flee custody: Attempt gain possession Unknown 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: Subject was located unresponsive in his cell. Medical efforts were attempted by jail staff and EMS. Subject was transported to a medical facility where he was pronounced decease. Custodial Death Report :: Page 6 of 6