Nathaniel Bruce Gale

CUSTODIAL DEATH REPORT Agency Information CDR Number: 19-552-MJ Version Type: AMENDED 12/12/2019 8:37 Report Date: Status: Submitted AM Agency/Facility Information Webster Police 217 Pennsylvania Agency Name: Agency Address: Dept. Ave. Agency City: Webster Agency State: TX Agency Zip: 77598 Director Information Director Salutation: Chief Director First Name: Daniel Director Middle Name: Director Last Name: Rogers Reporter Name: Pete Bacon Reporter Email: [email protected] Decedent Information Custodial Death Report :: Page 1 of 7 --- PAGE BREAK --- Identity of Deceased First Name: Nathaniel Middle Name: Bruce Last Name: Gale Suffix: Date of Birth: 8/3/1999 Sex: Male Race: Anglo or White Age At Time Of Death: 19 Date/Time of Custody (arrest, incarceration) (mm/dd/yyyy hh:mm AM/PM): Date/Time of Custody or 6/7/2019 10:14 PM Incident: Date/Time of Death (mm/dd/yyyy hh:mm AM/PM): Death Date and Time: 6/8/2019 8:57 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) Manner of Death: Accidental Custodial Death Report :: Page 2 of 7 --- PAGE BREAK --- Medical Cause of Death: Medical Cause of Death: Combined toxic effects of alprazolam, cocaine, heroine, and oxycodone. 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?: Decedent 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: Drug overdose Location / Custody Information Custodial Death Report :: Page 3 of 7 --- PAGE BREAK --- Where did the event causing the death occur? 217 Pennsylvania Street Address: City: Webster Avenue County: Harris Zip: 77598 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: Municipal 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: 6/7/2019 11:00 PM Where did the death occur? Law enforcement Death Location: facility/booking center General Information Did any other law enforcement agencies respond to calls for service related to this incident? Custodial Death Report :: Page 4 of 7 --- PAGE BREAK --- 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 PG 1 Offense 2: Offense 3: Were the Charges:: Filed What were the types of charges or reason for contact? (Hold CTRL to select all that apply) Alcohol / drug Type of Offense: 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 No weapons: At any time during the incident and/or entry into the law enforcement facility, did the decedent: Attempt to Injure Others?: No 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?: No drugs): Exhibit any mental health No Exhibit any medical problems?: No problems?: 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 --- Barricade self or initiate No Resist being handcuffed or No standoff?: arrested?: Physically attempt/assault Gain possession of officer's No No officer(s): weapon: Verbally threaten other(s) Escape or attempt to No 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? Under Restraint: No Summary of Incident Summary of How the Death Occurred: (max. 30,000 characters) Summary: See Webster PD Offense Reports 19-01468 (PCS) and 19-01473 (Death Investigation) for complete case details. Synopsis: The deceased, Nathaniel Bruce Gale, was arrested on Friday June 7, 2019 at 22:14 hours, for possession of a controlled substance (cocaine). The arrest was made in a parking lot located at 20931 IH-45 in the City of Webster, Harris County, Texas. Gale was placed into custody without incident, or use of force, and was transported to the Webster municipal jail, located at 217 Pennsylvania Avenue, for booking. Gale was cooperative during the booking process, which included health-screening questions, property inventory, fingerprinting, phone call(s), and changing into a jail issued jumpsuit. After booking, Gale was placed into an unoccupied, 4-person cell, where, he eventually fell asleep. Between midnight and 01:00 on Saturday June 8, 2019, two additional prisoners were placed into the cell with Gale. At approximately 03:07 hours, one of these prisoners was transported to the hospital after breaking his hand by punching the cell wall. At this time, a Webster officer observed Gale to be sleeping and snoring loudly. At approximately 08:52 hours on Saturday June 8, 2019, Webster officers were distributing the morning meal to prisoners when Gale was found unresponsive. Medics were called and Gale was pronounced deceased. Upon notification of the in-custody death, the Webster PD Command Staff took the following actions: • Notified the Harris County District Attorney’s Office and requested an investigator respond – Investigator Stan Walker • Notified Texas Rangers and requested an investigator respond – Ranger Shane Ellison • Notified Webster PD Criminal Investigations personnel to respond – Sergeant JC Rincones, Detective David Nettles, Detective Vincent Cesari • Notified Webster PD Office of Professional Standards to respond – Sergeant Jamie Sherrill • Notified the Harris County Medical Examiner’s Office to respond – Investigator Gary Schmidt On Sunday June 9, 2019, an autopsy was conducted at the Harris County Institute of Forensic Science. Ranger Ellison and Detective Nettles attended and were advised that the initial toxicology screen showed the presence of cocaine, opiates and benzodiazepine – full toxicology screen is pending. Custodial Death Report :: Page 6 of 7 --- PAGE BREAK --- The following reports are pending at this time: • Ranger Ellison’s death investigation • Detective Nettles death investigation • HCDA civil rights investigation • Webster PD OPS internal investigation • HCME death investigation Custodial Death Report :: Page 7 of 7