An inmate at Bexar County Jail was found deceased last Saturday, according to the Bexar County Sheriff's Office (BCSO). The inmate, a 50-year-old male, had been arrested for possession of marijuana on February 22. He was discovered by a deputy conducting a face-to-face observation check at approximately 2:02 p.m., attempting to take his own life. In response, the deputy initiated life-saving measures and declared a Code Blue One, as reported by KENS 5.
Efforts to revive the inmate included prompt medical intervention by the facility's staff and the San Antonio Fire Department. The inmate was subsequently transported to University Hospital for further treatment. Despite attempts by medical staff, he was pronounced dead later that evening at 7:55 p.m. This incident marks the second inmate death at the Bexar County Jail this year, with the jail reporting a total of 13 deaths in the previous year, down from 18 in 2023, according to the same KENS 5 report.
The Sheriff's Office, in a news release obtained by KSAT, stated that "Currently, it appears that all BCSO policies and procedures were followed during the observation checks conducted by the deputy." An official investigation into the death by the BCSO Criminal Investigations Division, Internal Affairs, and the Public Integrity Unit, with the Texas Commission on Jail Standards being notified, is standard procedure. The identity of the deceased inmate has yet to be released as officials work to notify his next of kin.
Concerns about inmate welfare and jail procedures persist as these tragedies continue. The Sheriff's Office insists proper protocols were followed, but recurring custodial deaths raise questions. Investigations by CID, IA, and PIU will examine whether systemic issues need to be addressed to prevent future incidents, as per a report by KENS 5 and KSAT.
