A routine DWI arrest in San Antonio ended in tragedy early Tuesday when a 61-year-old man died after suffering a medical episode while being booked into the Bexar County jail, authorities said. He was taken to a hospital by emergency personnel, where he was later pronounced dead, and the San Antonio Police Department has opened an investigation into what happened.
SAPD said officers arrested the man just before 6 p.m. Monday near San Pedro Avenue and West Woodlawn Avenue. While being transferred to the Bexar County Adult Detention Center, he suffered a medical episode and was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead just before 3:15 a.m., KSAT reports.
SAPD said the man suffered a medical episode while being transferred to the Justice Intake and Assessment Annex. Emergency personnel took him to a hospital, and SAPD is investigating, NEWS4 reports.
Medical Examiner Identifies the Decedent
The Bexar County Medical Examiner’s Office identified the man as 61-year-old Darryl Valadez. The cause and manner of death remain under investigation, according to KSAT. The outlet also reported that it had requested body-worn and dashboard-camera footage from SAPD and had not received a response as of Tuesday night.
Another Death In A Troubling Year At The Jail
Valadez’s death comes amid heightened scrutiny of the Bexar County Adult Detention Center. The San Antonio Express-News reported that a woman found dead at the jail on Sunday marked the 12th inmate death this year, sparking oversight concerns tracked by local media.
Where It Happened
The transfer and booking took place at Bexar County’s Justice Intake and Assessment Annex at 200 N. Comal St., the county’s central 24-hour magistration and booking facility, Bexar County reports.
Legal Review And Oversight
County jail deaths typically trigger independent and administrative reviews, with investigators collecting medical records, surveillance footage, and custody logs. The Sandra Bland Act requires an outside agency to investigate in-custody deaths, and officials are expected to review Valadez’s case, the San Antonio Express-News reports. SAPD and the Bexar County Sheriff’s Office have not released a full timeline of his processing or medical history, and the Medical Examiner has not issued a final cause of death. This story will be updated as new information becomes available.
