The Hawk’s Eye – Consulting & News | A Texas News Source

Willacy County Entangled in Another Jail Lawsuit

Willacy County Entangled in Another Jail Lawsuit

By

The Hawk’s Eye – Consulting & News, your source for engaging and informative Texas news. Our publication focuses on delivering accurate and impactful stories that matter to you, with a primary emphasis on Central and South Texas. Stay informed about pressing issues and gain a deeper understanding of your government. With a commitment to transparency and accountability, trust us to provide reliable information that holds those in power accountable.


Willacy County faces another lawsuit for denying medication to an inmate. The lawsuit also accuses the Sheriff’s Department of systemic neglect.


Willacy County Entangled in Another Jail Lawsuit

Willacy County Entangled in Another Jail Lawsuit

After settling a lawsuit for $1M for an in-custody death at the Willacy County Jail, they are named in another lawsuit involving misconduct. This time, a lawsuit filed in Willacy County on March 26, 2024, names Kevin Villarreal as the plaintiff and the Willacy County Sheriff’s Department as the defendant. Villarreal, a male diagnosed with ADHD, insomnia, bipolar disorder, anxiety, and depression, relies on medically prescribed medications including Adderall, Loratadine, Bupropion, and Clonidine to manage these conditions and prevent self-harm.

The lawsuit alleges that Villarreal, when confronted by police officers while attempting or contemplating suicide, was promptly arrested and taken to Willacy County’s jail. However, while in custody, Villarreal was reportedly denied access to his prescribed medications and refused medical treatment for his diagnosed conditions. The lawsuit contends that this conduct placed Villarreal and others at severe risk, in violation of established legal precedent.

Citing previous cases such as Alderson v. Concordia Par. Corr. Facility, Easter v. Powell, and Nerren v. Livingston Police Department, the lawsuit asserts that the Willacy County Sheriff’s Department has a duty to provide prescribed medication to individuals in its custody. It further alleges that the department has deliberately promulgated policies and customs to prevent individuals from receiving necessary medical care while in custody.

The lawsuit also references previous incidents, including the cases of individuals who reportedly died in the custody of the Willacy County Sheriff’s Office due to a lack of medical care. These incidents, including the deaths of a man on December 2, 2023, which does not appear to be reported to the Texas Attorney General’s Office within the mandatory 30-day notification process, John Ray Zamora on February 11, 2022, and Jose Alberto Gonzalez Rodriguez on January 1, 2016, are highlighted as evidence of a systemic issue within the department.

According to the lawsuit, the Willacy County Sheriff’s Office official policy maker is identified as Sheriff Joe Salazar, who is accused of promulgating the Willacy County Sheriff’s Department Manual, including a provision (7.39.1) stating that medication will not be retained in the possession of inmates, with minimal exceptions.

Alleging that Villarreal suffered injuries and damages as a result of the Willacy County Sheriff’s Office actions, the lawsuit seeks to bring attention to what is claimed to be a pattern of neglect and disregard for the medical needs of individuals in the custody of the department.

Both lawsuits involved Israel Perez Law, PLLC which has offices in the Rio Grande Valley, San Antonio, Houston, and the Dallas-Fort Worth area.

Willacy County’s Duty to Report

Two of the in-custody deaths outlined in the lawsuit seemed to indicate a failure in properly reporting the incidents to the Texas Attorney General’s Office. Under Texas law, specifically the Texas Code of Criminal Procedures 49.18(b), if a person incarcerated in a jail dies, the director for the law enforcement agency is required to notify the attorney general’s office no later than the 30th day after the death.

Willacy County Fails to Timely Report

In review of the Texas Attorney General’s Office, Custodial Death Report database, the Willacy County Sheriff’s Office waited almost two years to report the death of John Ray Zamora. The death was listed as occurring on February 11, 2022, and it was claimed to be originally reported on February 2, 2024. Further inconsistencies arise when the summary of the death is provided:

As per Pathologist “Cardiorespiratory Arrest While Under the Influence of Multiple Drugs (Excited Delirium Syndrome)”, “the cause of death in this case is a Cardiac Arrhythmia due to drugs of abuse in a person exhibiting signs and symptoms of excited delirium syndrome. These persons end up in a sudden cardiac death and according to medical literature do not respond to CPR maneuvers”

However, in publicly circulated news, the allegations go far beyond the description provided to the Texas Attorney General’s Office.

Interestingly enough, the public notification of a jail death in December of 2023, has not been reported to the Texas Attorney General’s Office; per the public dashboard.

Disclaimer

The content provided in this publication is for educational and informational purposes only. The Hawk’s Eye – Consulting & News strives to deliver accurate and impactful stories. However, readers are advised to seek professional legal counsel and guidance for their specific legal inquiries and concerns. The publication does not assume any responsibility for actions taken by individuals based on the information presented.

Additionally, while every effort is made to ensure the reliability of the information, the publication does not warrant the completeness, accuracy, or timeliness of the content. Readers are encouraged to verify any legal information with official sources and to use their discretion when interpreting and applying the information provided.


A Couple of Our Other Reads

You may be interested in our publishing on two State Board of Pharmacy officers resigning to avoid termination.

Or you may find our publishing about a TABC officer resigning to avoid termination, of interest.


Follow Us on Social Media

If you are interested in staying updated on matters about your government in Texas and other important stories, trust The Hawk’s Eye – Consulting & News to provide reliable information that matters to you. You can follow us on social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, X, Reddit, YouTube, Tumblr, and LinkedIn to stay connected and informed.

FACEBOOK: TheHawksEyeNews
INSTAGRAM: Hawk_s_Eye_C_and_N
X: TheHawksEyeNews
REDDIT: TheHawksEyeCN
YOUTUBE: The Hawk’s Eye – Consulting & News
TUMBLR: The Hawk’s Eye – Consulting & News
LINKEDIN: The Hawk’s Eye – Consulting & News


Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *