Lee Roy Tapia

CUSTODIAL DEATH REPORT Agency Information ORIGINAL CDR Number: 17-609-CJ Version Type: VERSION 11/16/2017 3:52 Report Date: Status: Submitted PM Agency/Facility Information Cameron County 7300 Old Alice Agency Name: Agency Address: Sheriff's Office Road Agency City: Olmito Agency State: TX Agency Zip: 78575 Director Information Director Salutation: Sheriff Director First Name: Javier Director Middle Name: Director Last Name: Reyna Sgt. Edgar Reporter Name: Reporter Email: [email protected] Rivera Decedent Information Custodial Death Report :: Page 1 of 7 --- PAGE BREAK --- Identity of Deceased First Name: Lee Roy Middle Name: Last Name: Tapia Suffix: Date of Birth: 6/8/1985 Sex: Male Race: Hispanic or Latino Age At Time Of Death: 32 Date/Time of Custody (arrest, incarceration) (mm/dd/yyyy hh:mm AM/PM): Date/Time of Custody or 10/9/2017 12:33 Incident: PM Date/Time of Death (mm/dd/yyyy hh:mm AM/PM): 10/12/2017 11:16 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 Evaluation?: pending What was the manner of death? (select only one) Custodial Death Report :: Page 2 of 7 --- PAGE BREAK --- Manner of Death: Pending autopsy results Medical Cause of Death: Medical Cause of Death: Pending autopsy results 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? 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: Unknown Location / Custody Information Custodial Death Report :: Page 3 of 7 --- PAGE BREAK --- Where did the event causing the death occur? 7100 Old Alice Street Address: City: Olmito Road County: Cameron Zip: 78575 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: 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: 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?: 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: Assault on Public Servant Offense 2: 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) 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: Yes (select all that Attempt to Injure Others?: apply) Injured law Ways Decedent Attempted To enforcement Injure Others: personnel At any time during the incident and/or entry into the law enforcement facility, did the decedent: Custodial Death Report :: Page 5 of 7 --- PAGE BREAK --- Appear intoxicated (alcohol or Yes Make suicidal statements?: No drugs): Exhibit any mental health Unknown 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 Yes 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: Restraint Chair Summary of Incident Summary of How the Death Occurred: (max. 30,000 characters) Summary: On Monday, October 9, 2017 at approximately 11 :35hrs Cameron County Sheriff Deputies responded to Jacaranda Circle in the rural area of San Benito, Cameron County, Texas in reference to an unknown disturbance involving a suspect that may have sustained a gunshot wound. Cameron County Sheriff Deputies arrived on scene at approximately 11 :47hrs. Upon investigation of the Custodial Death Report :: Page 6 of 7 --- PAGE BREAK --- incident it was determined by responding deputies that Lee Roy Tapia committed the offense of criminal mischief and was arrested for said offense. Lee Roy Tapia failed to comply with directives from responding Cameron County Sheriff Deputies which resulted in oleo resin capsicum (QC) being deployed on him. Lee Roy Tapia was decontaminated with cool water to his face. Lee Roy Tapia was making irrational statements such as him being Jesus Christ. Lee Roy Tapia resisted arrest, resisted transportation, and assaulted deputies that were in the process of placing him in a patrol unit for transportation to the Cameron County Jail. Emergency Medical Services were summoned to evaluate Tapia but he continued being combative and was unresponsive to EMS questioning. Cameron County Sheriff Deputies transported Lee Roy Tapia in a marked patrol unit to the Cameron County Carrizales/Rucker Detention Center. During transport Lee Roy Tapia was banging his head against the patrol unit's partition. Detention Center staff were notified of a combative detainee en route to said location. Cameron County Sheriff Deputies arrived at the Carrizales/Rucker Detention Center at approximately 12:33hrs. Lee Roy Tapia was taken out of the patrol unit and placed in a restraint chair and wheeled into the facility by Detention Center personnel. Lee Roy Tapia was placed in the booking area where he was seen by medical staff. Detention Center personnel attempted to take off the mechanical restraints at which time Lee Roy Tapia continued to be combative and uncooperative. Cameron County Carrizales/Rucker Detention Center Medical Staff initiated the evaluation process on Lee Roy Tapia at which time Tapia became unresponsive. Lee Roy Tapia was taken off the restraint chair and placed on the floor where life saving measures were taken by medical staff. Brownsville EMS was summoned and transported Lee Roy Tapia to a local hospital where he was admitted. Routine screening at the hospital revealed the presence of cocaine in Lee Roy Tapia. Lee Roy Tapia remained at the hospital on life support until Thursday October 12, 2017 when family members opted to release Tapia from life support. Lee Roy Tapia expired at 11 :16hrs. An autopsy was performed by Cameron County Forensic Pathology Dr. Elizabeth Miller. During the course of the autopsy Dr. Miller located a clear plastic baggie in Lee Roy Tapia's stomach. Further studies were required to determine a cause and manner of death. Complete autopsy report pending. Custodial Death Report :: Page 7 of 7