Ricky H. Daffron

CUSTODIAL DEATH REPORT Agency Information CDR Number: 20-1440-CJ Version Type: AMENDED 10/28/2020 5:11 Report Date: Status: Submitted PM Agency/Facility Information Bowie County 100 North State Agency Name: Agency Address: Sheriff's Office Line, BOX 18 Agency City: Texarkana Agency State: TX Agency Zip: 75501 Director Information Director Salutation: Sheriff Director First Name: JAMES Director Middle Name: W Director Last Name: PRINCE Reporter Name: Robby McCarver Reporter Email: [email protected] Decedent Information Custodial Death Report :: Page 1 of 7 --- PAGE BREAK --- Identity of Deceased First Name: Ricky Middle Name: H. Last Name: Daffron Suffix: Date of Birth: 7/1/1959 Sex: Male Race: Anglo or White Age At Time Of Death: 61 Date/Time of Custody (arrest, incarceration) (mm/dd/yyyy hh:mm AM/PM): Date/Time of Custody or 9/15/2016 1:56 PM Incident: Date/Time of Death (mm/dd/yyyy hh:mm AM/PM): 10/28/2020 12:18 Death Date and Time: PM 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) Homicide (includes Manner of Death: Justifiable Custodial Death Report :: Page 2 of 7 --- PAGE BREAK --- Homicide) Medical Cause of Death: Medical Cause of Death: From Medical Examiner's report "It is our opinion that Ricky H. Daffron, a 61 year-old white man, died as a result of blunt force injuries further complicated by COVID-19, hypertensive and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, and diabetes mellitus." Had the decedent been receiving treatment for the medical condition that caused the death after admission to your jail's jurisdiction? Medical Treatment: Yes If death was an accident, homicide or suicide, who caused the death? Who caused the death?: Other detainee(s) 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? Deceased Pre existing medical developed condition condition?: after admission If death was an accident, homicide or suicide, what was the means of death? Means of Death: Other, specify The deceased was involved in altercation with another inmate within the Bowie County Jail Annex Means of Death Other: and suffered head injuries that we suspect led to his Custodial Death Report :: Page 3 of 7 --- PAGE BREAK --- death. The inmate used his fists and feet to strike the deceased. Location / Custody Information Where did the event causing the death occur? 105 West Front Street Address: City: Texarkana Street County: Bowie Zip: 75501 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: 9/15/2016 1:56 PM Where did the death occur? Death Location: Medical facility Custodial Death Report :: Page 4 of 7 --- PAGE BREAK --- General Information 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: False Imprisonment 15yr Old (Arkansas Conviction) Offense 2: Aggravated Assault (Arkansas Conviction) Offense 3: Were the Charges:: Convicted What were the types of charges or reason for contact? (Hold CTRL to select all that apply) Crimes Against Type of Offense: Child(ren) 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) Custodial Death Report :: Page 5 of 7 --- PAGE BREAK --- Attempted to injure Ways Decedent Attempted To civilian(s) or other Injure Others: inmate(s) 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?: Yes 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 No standoff?: arrested?: Physically attempt/assault Gain possession of officer's No 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? Under Restraint: No Summary of Incident Summary of How the Death Occurred: (max. 30,000 characters) Summary: On 10-9-2020, inmate Ricky Daffron w/m 7-1-1961 was involved in a physical altercation with another inmate within the Bowie County Jail Annex. Inmate Daffron sustained severe head injuries as a result of being struck by Inmate Randy L. Baker w/m 7-13-1983. Baker used his hands and feet to inflict the injuries before jail staff were able to respond inside of the cell. Daffron was transported to Wadley Regional Medical Center and was unresponsive at the time of his departure from our facility. Upon admission in the hospital, Inmate Daffron was also determined to be Positive for Covid-19. TX Ranger Joshua Mason was contacted to satisfy outside investigation protocols regarding potential deaths within the jail. Interviews with Inmate Baker and other Custodial Death Report :: Page 6 of 7 --- PAGE BREAK --- inmates housed within the pod revealed the following: On 10-9-2020, Inmate Daffron was combative verbally with several within the pod. During the verbal altercation, Daffron spit on Inmate Randy Baker. Baker responded by physically attacking Daffron. Once Baker was able to knock Daffron to the ground he continued the assault using his hands and feet. The assault continued even though Daffron became unresponsive. Inmate Daffron remained in Wadley Regional Medical Center until his death on 10-28-2020. Daffron was transported to the Southwestern Institute of Forensic Sciences at Dallas for autopsy. It is expected that Daffron's death will be ruled a homicide due to injuries sustained from Inmate Randy Baker but his Covid-19 diagnosis complicates that belief. This report will be revisited upon completion and receipt of the autopsy results. Additional Information: Medical Examiner's report has ruled that Ricky H. Daffron died as a result of blunt force injuries further complicated by COVID-19, hypertensive and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, and diabetes mellitus. The manner of death is homicide. Custodial Death Report :: Page 7 of 7