Matthew Ryan Melton

CUSTODIAL DEATH REPORT Agency Information ORIGINAL CDR Number: PA16371C Version Type: VERSION Report Date: 8/18/2016 4:15 PM Status: Submitted Agency/Facility Information Friendswood Police 910 S. Friendswood Agency Name: Agency Address: Dept. Dr. Agency City: Friendswood Agency State: TX Agency Zip: 77546 Director Information Director Salutation: Chief Director First Name: Robert Director Middle Name: B. Director Last Name: Wieners Reporter Name: Lisa Price Reporter Email: [email protected] Decedent Information Custodial Death Report :: Page 1 of 7 --- PAGE BREAK --- Identity of Deceased First Name: Matthew Middle Name: Ryan Last Name: Melton Suffix: Date of Birth: 7/29/1983 Sex: Male Race: Age At Time Of Death: 32 Date/Time of Custody (arrest, incarceration) (mm/dd/yyyy hh:mm AM/PM): Date/Time of Custody or 4/28/2016 11:28 Incident: PM Date/Time of Death (mm/dd/yyyy hh:mm AM/PM): Death Date and Time: 4/29/2016 3:35 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) Manner of Death: Suicide Custodial Death Report :: Page 2 of 7 --- PAGE BREAK --- Medical Cause of Death: Medical Cause of Death: gunshot wound to the head 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: 5025 FM 2351 #604 City: Friendswood County: Harris 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: Custody of Peace Officer during/fleeing arrest 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? At the crime/arrest Death Location: scene 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 on a Peace Officer 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) 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 Yes 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: On 04/28/2016 at approximately 2320 hours, Friendswood police officers were dispatched to 5025 FM 2351 apartment #604, Friendswood, Texas 77546 in reference to a suspect who was possibly attempting to commit suicide. The reporting person advised the suspect told her he had cut one of his wrists and was going to cut the other. At approximately 2328 hours, Officers arrived to the scene and I walked to the front door of the apartment. While at the front door of the apartment officers noticed a light on in the room to the right of the front door. The officer looked through the window and observed Matthew Ryan Melton sitting on a bed. Officers knocked on the front door, and observed Melton begin to quickly pick up several orange pills that had spilled on the floor of the bedroom. An officer asked Melton to open the door. Melton got up from the bed and walked out of the room. Melton walked to the front door of the apartment and unlocked it. Once Melton opened the door he stood their looking towards the officers with a confused look on his face. Melton slammed the door shut. One of the officers grabbed the door handle to prevent Melton from locking it, pushed against the door and opened it. When the door opened, Melton was walking backwards with his right hand behind the back of his leg. The officer entered the apartment and observed Melton raise his right hand with a black pistol in it. He aimed the pistol towards two of the officers; the officers retreated. A perimeter was set up around the apartment. Officers checked surrounding apartments and ensured the residents were taken to a safe place. SWAT and Crisis Negotiators arrived at the scene. Harris County Assistant District Attorney Phanco was contacted, and advised that the charge of aggravated Custodial Death Report :: Page 6 of 7 --- PAGE BREAK --- assault against a Peace Officer would be accepted. At 00:37 hours, negotiators attempted to make contact with Melton by phone, but he was rejecting the phone calls. However, he was in contact with his ex-girlfriend and was communicating with her by text message. At approximately 01:29 hours, negotiators contacted Melton via text message and communicated back and forth, off and on, until 02:43 hours. At 01:55 hours, Melton sent a text message requesting the power be turned back on, as the tactical team had turned off his power, and he made the request for power several times. Negotiators continued to communicate with Melton over text message in which he stated that he was not going back to jail. Melton made religious remarks, such as wanting the power on in order to look for his crucifix. At 02:40 hours Melton advised that the battery on his phone was at 7%. At 02:43 Officer Dusek received the last text message from Melton. Once there were no more text messages from Melton, negotiators relocated to the front of the apartment in an attempt to use the PA system on the patrol car. At this point, the fence surrounding the front patio had already been torn down by SWAT in order to expose the sliding glass door, and when no contact was made by phone, SWAT team members started to bang on the sliding glass door and yelled into the apartment in order to get Melton`s attention. Several gun shots went off inside the apartment. At around 03:30 hours, when no contact was made, SWAT made entry into the apartment and advised they had a male subject down and requested EMS. Friendswood EMS confirmed the death of Melton at approximately 03:35 hours, and the scene was turned over to CID. Prior to the arrival of the Harris County Medical Examiner, a detective contacted the Harris County District Attorney`s Officer to notify them of the in-custody death. Detective Powledge spoke with Harris County DA Investigator Matt Gray. Investigator Gray was given all the pertinent information and he called back at approximately 4:39 am and advised the District Attorney`s Office would not be coming to the scene and to release the body to the Medical Examiner`s Office. At approximately 4:43 am, the Harris County Medical Examiner`s Officer arrived on scene to conduct their investigation and take custody of Mr. Melton`s body. Harris County ME personnel consisted of Miguel Aguirre and Y. Chong; which they removed and took custody of the body at approximately 5:35 am. Please refer to HCME ML# 16-1565. Friendswood Evidence Technician Johnny Tram was on scene and photographed the entire scene and collected evidence. At approximately 5:40 am the crime scene was released to the apartment complex maintenance team for them to secure the residence. Custodial Death Report :: Page 7 of 7