Today, Tarrant County Commissioners will talk about another fatality at the jail involving inmates. There will likely be protesters. What to anticipate is as follows:
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On Tuesday, commissioners discussed the latest inmate’s death at the Tarrant County jail.
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31-year-old Mason Yancy died in late December following a medical emergency in his jail cell.
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Tarrant County has also hired a new chief to oversee the jail system, which came under fire after a string of in-custody jail deaths this past summer.
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On Tuesday, commissioners discussed the latest inmate’s death at the Tarrant County jail.
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31-year-old Mason Yancy died in late December following a medical emergency in his jail cell.
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Tarrant County has also hired a new chief to oversee the jail system, which came under fire after a string of in-custody jail deaths this past summer.
Tarrant County Commissioners convened in Fort Worth, Texas, to address the death of another prisoner at the facility.
On Tuesday morning, protesters also intended to be at the county courthouse with signs and a message for the commissioners on Mason Yancy’s and numerous others’ deaths while in custody.
Who Was Mason Yancy?
We know:
Four days after being taken into custody by Grapevine police on drug-related accusations, Yancy passed away on December 27.
According to the Tarrant County Sheriff’s Office, when Yancy was arrested, he revealed a lengthy medical history. Then, despite attempts to save his life, he passed away due to a medical emergency.
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Tarrant Co. inmate dies after medical emergency while in custody
According to Tarrant County jail officials, a 31-year-old prisoner passed away on Friday following a medical crisis.
While demanding justice for those who have perished in the Tarrant County jail, the Libertarian Party of Texas posted a photo of the 31-year-old on Facebook.
What is unknown to us:
The cause of Yancy’s death is still a mystery. The findings of his autopsy are still awaiting.
Tarrant County Jail Deaths
The backstory
Since Sheriff Bill Waybourn assumed office in 2017, the jail has been under fire for the approximately 70 in-custody deaths that have occurred there.
In December, Yancy became the second prisoner to pass away there.
After notifying jail authorities that he wasn’t feeling well, a 51-year-old man passed away on December 2. After being checked out at the jail, he was brought to John Peter Smith Hospital, where he passed away.
Inmate Anthony Ray Johnson Jr. passed away in June of last year after a fight with guards that was caught on camera.
After a confrontation with correctional authorities at the Tarrant County Jail, 31-year-old Anthony Ray Johnson passed away on April 21. The event resulted in the dismissal of two jailers on Thursday.
After Johnson was already restrained and pepper sprayed, one of the officers can be seen on camera kneeling on his back. The event was captured on cellphone video by the supervising officer.
You can hear Johnson exclaim, “I can’t breathe,” in the video.
Tarrant County inmate Anthony Johnson s cause of death revealed
According to an autopsy report, a homicide was the cause of an inmate’s death at the Tarrant County jail in April.
According to an autopsy report, Johnson’s death was caused by both chemical and mechanical suffocation.
According to the Tarrant County Sheriff’s Office, the usage of pepper spray and the presence of methamphetamine were both factors in the discovery of chemical asphyxiation. The knee on his back and the cuffs might have played a part in the mechanical asphyxiation.
The ongoing investigation led to the termination of two of the jailers involved.
Tarrant County jailers fired again after being charged with inmate’s murder
The two jailers in Tarrant County who are accused of killing an inmate have been let go once more.
Following the determination that Johnson’s death was a homicide, they were charged with murder.
Shannon Herklotz hired to oversee Tarrant County jail
A new chief has been appointed by Tarrant County to manage the correctional system.
Shannon Herklotz was the chief jailer and top deputy at the Harris County jail in Houston before joining the Dallas County Sheriff’s Office.
In Austin, he also held the position of deputy director for the Texas Commission on Jail Standards.
“Shannon brings more than three decades of detention experience to TCSO and we are lucky to have him,” the sheriff said in a statement following Herklotz’s appointment.
Charles Eckert, the former chief deputy, is replaced by Herklotz.
Following a series of inmate fatalities, including the one that prompted a criminal inquiry and the arrest of two jail staff, Eckert retired in May.
Tarrant County jail chief retires following 6th inmate death
Chief Charles Eckert’s 32-year tenure with the Tarrant County Sheriff’s Office was praised by the office. However, that is not the opinion of all county employees and community people.
Waybourn Addresses County Commissioners
What they’re saying:
While the jail’s in-custody deaths are being looked into, Sheriff Waybourn has begged the public to be patient.
He also cited a report from a Department of Justice department that praised the Tarrant County jail, its staff, and its administration.
Waybourn informed commissioners that his employees adhered to the correct safety procedures in relation to Yancy’s passing.
He claimed that while Yancy was being assessed by nurses, he passed out in his cell and received emergency medical care.
“It’s very unfortunate that he passed, but when he did he got the very best health care we could deliver at the moment,” added the sheriff.
“Nearly 70 deaths cannot be disregarded. And bringing openness is something we owe to taxpayers,” Commissioner Alisa Simmons stated.
In order to provide more medical intervention, she demanded that the jail booking procedure be changed.
The Tarrant County Commissioners, the Tarrant County Sheriff’s Office, and previous news reports provided the information used in this piece.
