Louis Michael Flores

CUSTODIAL DEATH REPORT Agency Information ORIGINAL CDR Number: PA16429CJ Version Type: VERSION 8/30/2016 12:00 Report Date: Status: Submitted AM Agency/Facility Information Goliad County Agency Name: Agency Address: 701 E. End St. Sheriff's Dept. Agency City: Goliad Agency State: TX Agency Zip: 77963 Director Information Director Salutation: Sheriff Director First Name: Kirby Director Middle Name: Director Last Name: Brumby Captain John Reporter Name: Reporter Email: [email protected] Pape Decedent Information Custodial Death Report :: Page 1 of 7 --- PAGE BREAK --- Identity of Deceased First Name: Louis Middle Name: Michael Last Name: Flores Suffix: Date of Birth: 6/8/1965 Sex: Male Race: Age At Time Of Death: 51 Date/Time of Custody (arrest, incarceration) (mm/dd/yyyy hh:mm AM/PM): Date/Time of Custody or 4/4/2016 6:15 PM Incident: Date/Time of Death (mm/dd/yyyy hh:mm AM/PM): Death Date and Time: 8/25/2016 2:45 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 are Evaluation?: available What was the manner of death? (select only one) Natural Custodial Death Report :: Page 2 of 7 --- PAGE BREAK --- Manner of Death: Causes/Illness Medical Cause of Death: Medical Cause of Death: Complications of hepatic cirrhosis Had the decedent been receiving treatment for the medical condition that caused the death after admission to your jail's jurisdiction? Medical Treatment: No 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 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 Pre-existing medical condition?: condition If death was an accident, homicide or suicide, what was the means of death? Not applicable; cause of death was Means of Death: intoxication or illness/natural causes Custodial Death Report :: Page 3 of 7 --- PAGE BREAK --- Location / Custody Information Where did the event causing the death occur? Street Address: 701 E. End Street City: Goliad County: Goliad 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: Type of Custody: County Jail Specific type of custody/facility: Specific Type of Custody/Facility: Jail - multiple occupancy 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: 4/4/2016 6:15 PM Where did the death occur? At law enforcement Death Location: 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: Aggravated Assault w/a Deadly Weapon Offense 2: Offense 3: Were the Charges:: Convicted 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: No Summary of Incident Summary of How the Death Occurred: (max. 30,000 characters) Summary: Time: approximately 12:00 hours, August 24, 2016. Capt. Gerardo Diaz, Jail Administrator for the Goliad County Jail, conducted a check on inmate Louis Michael Flores, who was housed in Pod F, Bunk 3. Diaz had been notified by jail staff that Inmate Flores was not responding to jail staff. Capt. Diaz went to Pod F and checked on inmate Flores. Diaz entered the Pod, walked up to inmate Flores who was laying in his bunk, called his name and tapped him on the arm. When Flores did not immediately respond, Capt. Diaz contacted Jailer Miranda Kennedy and asked her to summon EMS to check on inmate Flores. This was at approximately 12:06 hours. Two EMS units responded to the jail. The first unit arrived at 12:11 hours; the second unit arrived at 12:14 hours. Dispatch also notified Capt. John Pape, who was in his office at the Sheriff’s Office. Pape immediately went to the jail and entered immediately behind the first EMS unit. In order to document the response, Capt. Pape began video recording the incident as the medics entered the jail pod and video-recorded the medical response. Between the time Capt. Diaz requested EMS and the time the initial EMS unit arrived, inmate Flores woke up and was awake and responsive. As medics examined inmate Flores, he repeatedly told both medics and jail staff the he was fine and was “just tired.” He said he was tired because he had been up all night “writing letters.” Medical evaluation found inmate Flores’ vital signs within normal levels except for his blood sugar, which registered 340. It should be noted that inmate Flores has diabetes. Medical and jail staff repeatedly urged Flores to allow them to transport him to the hospital to be further evaluated. He repeatedly refused, saying he was “fine” and ‘just tired.” Jail staff also offered to transport Flores to the medical clinic, which he also refused. Flores repeatedly refused transport or further medical treatment. Inmate Flores was lucid and coherent and capable of making medical decisions related to his own welfare. He also affixed his signature to a Goliad EMS Refusal of Care and Evaluation form. It should be noted that Pod F is a four-inmate cell but was occupied by only Flores and one other inmate at the time of the incident. The other inmate was Ersindo Perez. Out of a preponderance of caution for his health and well-being, Flores was put on a 15-minute watch, meaning jailers checked him every 15 minutes. This was done and documented on the Jail Inmate Observation Log. Time: approximately 02:45 hours, August 26, 2016 The 15-minute check on the welfare of inmate Louis Michael Flores continued until 2:45am August 26, when Jailer Cindy Diaz found Flores non-responsive with blood coming from his mouth. EMS was summoned at 02:49 hours and arrived at Custodial Death Report :: Page 6 of 7 --- PAGE BREAK --- 02:57 hours. EMS examination of inmate Flores showed that he was deceased. It should be noted that Jailer Allen Ferguson had checked on inmate Flores at approximately 02:30 hours, 15 minutes before Jailer Diaz found Flores dead. During Ferguson’s check, he found Flores to be responsive and well. Flores did not make any complaint of illness nor make any request for medical assistance. Inmate Perez was found to be asleep on both occasions. Also responding to the call was Deputy Vernon Busby, arriving at 02:59. The following other Goliad County Sheriff’s Office staff responding included: •Capt. John Pape – on scene at 03:16 hours •Deputy Alex Reyna – on scene at 03:16 hours •Sheriff Kirby Brumby – on scene at 04:24 hours •Chief Deputy Ellie Carter – on scene at 04:24 hours Capt. Pape photographed the scene, as well as video-recorded the scene. Capt. Pape inspected inmate Flores’ body and the scene after photography and videography was concluded. Flores was laying on his back clad only in black shorts. His right arm was extended outward from the bunk. Evidence of medical examination in the form of leads attached to Flores’ body was evident. There was an accumulation of semi-dried blood Flores’ face around the mouth and nose areas. Blood was also evident on Flores’ blanket and bunk frame. This was consistent with his having expelled blood from the mouth and nose area prior to expiring. Flores’ body showed no signs of trauma or foul play. Neither rigor mortis nor livor mortis was evident, and the body retained some body heat on the back side. The blood pattern was consistent with Flores having been laying on his right side. There was no blood evident on any other part of Flores’ body. The scene showed no evidence of a struggle or foul play. The top bunk displayed Flores’ personal items, much as it had during the earlier call. Some of Flores personal items were on the adjacent bunks as well. Judge Steven Kennedy was summoned to conduct an on-scene inquest at 03:25. Judge Kennedy set the time of death at 02:45 (the time Jailer Diaz discovered Flores deceased) and ordered an autopsy. Goliad Funeral Home was summoned to transport the deceased to Central Texas Autopsy in Lockhart, TX. After inmate Flores’ body was removed from the cell, the cell was locked down and sealed by Capt. Pape. Capt. Pape called for a Texas Ranger to further investigate since the death involved an inmate. Ranger Terry Snyder responded to the scene and conducted an on-site investigation. For details on Ranger Snyder’s investigation, refer to his investigative report. Upon Ranger Snyder’s exit from the pod, the cell was again locked and re-sealed by Capt. Pape. At approximately 15:36 hours, Capt. Pape received the initial cause of death report on inmate Flores from Central Texas Autopsy. Dr. Danielo Perez, who performed the autopsy, indicated inmate Flores had “significant upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage from eroded esophageal varices secondary to hepatic cirrhosis.” The autopsy findings remain preliminary as of this date (08.30.16) until toxicological results are completed. Custodial Death Report :: Page 7 of 7