At approximately 12:13 p.m. on Thursday, October 3, 2024, officers from the Temple Police Department were dispatched to a residence on the 2400 block of S 13th Street after receiving a 911 call. The caller, who was reported as “out of breath,” indicated that someone was “tearing up his house” and confirmed that the confrontation had turned physical. The caller added that the individual, who had been at the house earlier in the day, returned acting erratically and was possibly under the influence of narcotics. He described the suspect as having knocked groceries onto the floor and pouring milk everywhere.
Officers arrived on the scene around 12:18 p.m. and met the distraught caller, who was visibly upset and crying. The caller stated, "The suspect is freaking out in my house." Officers made their way inside and found the suspect in the kitchen pulling various items out of the refrigerator. The first officer announced "Temple PD" and observed the suspect drinking miscellaneous liquids such as dish soap and oil. Despite officers’ attempts to communicate, the suspect remained incoherent.
The first responding officer drew his Taser and issued several commands for the suspect to stop his actions. A second officer, who had entered the residence, tried to de-escalate the situation by telling the suspect, “We are here to help you.” The suspect drank miscellaneous liquids such as dish soap, oil, and other liquids. The suspect was unintelligible.
At approximately 12:20 p.m. the officer gave an audible warning to the suspect with the Taser arch, warning the suspect to stop. The suspect was seated in front of the refrigerator and grabbed an item to drink. Observing this the first officer stated, “I can’t let him drink that.”
The officer deployed the Taser. The deployment appeared to have minimal impact on the individual as the suspect continued to move around. The officers gave commands telling the suspect to stop and roll over on his stomach. The suspect turned towards the officers and attempted to drink the item in his hand again. The officer then deployed the Taser a second time. The suspect was again not fully incapacitated and the second officer attempted to go hands on. The suspect continued to resist and thrashed around ignoring commands of the officers.
The first officer initiated the third cycle of the Taser, and the second officer tried to control the suspect’s arm. Both officers gave commands to roll over but the suspect continued to thrash around and resist the officers. The suspect then began to reach into the refrigerator again.
The first officer advised the suspect that he will be tased again as both officers continued to tell the suspect to stop and roll over to his stomach. Officers continued to struggle attempting to get the suspect into custody.
The officers attempted to get the suspect's left arm behind his back and he continued to struggle with the top half of his body inside the refrigerator. The suspect was told that this is his last warning, and the suspect would be tased again. At approximately 12:22 a fourth Taser cycle was initiated, but the suspect again continued to struggle and not comply with commands.
The suspect went limp and the second officer advised he had gone unconscious. Officers pulled him out of the refrigerator, handcuffed him, and checked his vitals. One of the officers stated, “He is breathing,” and the suspect was rolled onto his side. The officers performed a sternum rub and called for EMS assistance. However, moments later, they noticed the suspect had stopped breathing. The officers immediately began CPR and administered Narcan in an effort to revive him. Despite these efforts, the suspect was pronounced dead at 12:59 p.m. by Justice of the Peace Reed, and an autopsy was ordered.
According to the original caller, the suspect explained to the caller he spent the caller’s money purchasing crack cocaine before returning to the apartment and exhibiting odd and abnormal behavior. The caller further stated that he had tried by force to remove the individual from his residence prior to calling police.
Following the incident, the Temple Police Department requested the Texas Rangers to lead the investigation due to the death occurring in police custody. The officer who deployed the Taser has been placed on administrative leave with pay, in accordance with department policy, while an internal affairs investigation is conducted to review the timeline and actions taken during the incident.
The investigation is ongoing, and authorities are encouraging anyone with information about the case to contact the Temple Police Department at 254-298-5500 or Bell County Crime Stoppers at 254-526-8477. Tips can be reported anonymously through the Crime Stoppers website, bellcountycrimestoppers.com.
