Norberto Santa Cruz

CUSTODIAL DEATH REPORT Agency Information ORIGINAL CDR Number: 17-129-CJ Version Type: VERSION Report Date: 3/20/2017 3:57 PM Status: Submitted Agency/Facility Information El Paso County Agency Name: Agency Address: 3850 Justice Road Sheriff's Dept. Agency City: El Paso Agency State: TX Agency Zip: 79938 Director Information Director Salutation: Sheriff Director First Name: Richard Director Middle Name: Director Last Name: Wiles Reporter Name: Robert Torrez Reporter Email: [email protected] Decedent Information Custodial Death Report :: Page 1 of 6 --- PAGE BREAK --- Identity of Deceased First Name: Norberto Middle Name: Last Name: Santa Cruz Suffix: Date of Birth: 2/26/1975 Sex: Male Race: Hispanic or Latino Age At Time Of Death: 42 Date/Time of Custody (arrest, incarceration) (mm/dd/yyyy hh:mm AM/PM): Date/Time of Custody or 3/3/2017 9:20 AM Incident: Date/Time of Death (mm/dd/yyyy hh:mm AM/PM): Death Date and Time: 3/11/2017 7:00 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 6 --- PAGE BREAK --- Medical Cause of Death: Medical Cause of Death: Self-inflicted hanging 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? 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? Hanging, Means of Death: strangulation Location / Custody Information Custodial Death Report :: Page 3 of 6 --- PAGE BREAK --- Where did the event causing the death occur? Street Address: 601 E Overland City: El Paso County: El Paso Zip: 79901 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 - 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: 3/3/2017 9:20 AM Where did the death occur? Death Location: Medical facility General Information Did any other law enforcement agencies respond to calls for service related to this incident? Other Agencies Respond?: No Custodial Death Report :: Page 4 of 6 --- PAGE BREAK --- 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: Intransit/Illegal Re-entry 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) Type of Offense: Other, specify Type of Offense, Other: Holding for deportation 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 No 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 6 --- PAGE BREAK --- Barricade self or initiate Resist being handcuffed or No 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: On March 4, 2017, Inmate Norberto Santa Cruz was booked into the El Paso County Detention Facility by the United States Border Patrol for Illegal Re-entry. Inmate Santa Cruz was placed in cellblock 0810. At approximately 0755 Hrs, Detention Officers were conducting a physical headcount. Officer Vargas entered cellblock 0810 and observed Inmate Santa Cruz hanging from the air vent by a piece of cloth believed to have been cut from a issued jail uniform. At the time, Inmate Santa Cruz was the sole occupant of the cell and the door to the cell was secured when the officers made their approach. Inmate Santa Cruz was taken from the vent and Officer removed the "noose" from his neck. Officers began giving Inmate Santa Cruz CPR. At approximately 0756 Hrs, the jail medical staff arrived on the floor and continued providing medical treatment to Inmate Santa Cruz. At approximately 0820 Hrs, Inmate Santa Cruz was transported to Las Palmas Medical Center for further medical treatment. Upon arrival, Inmate Santa Cruz was placed on life support pending further medical treatment. On March 11, 2017 at approximately 0700 Hrs, Inmate Santa Cruz was pronounced deceased by medical staff. Custodial Death Report :: Page 6 of 6