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Died in jail or a lockup

James Brown

26 years old · died July 15, 2012 · El Paso County Detention Facility, El Paso County, Texas

James Brown was a 26-year-old Army sergeant who had served two tours of combat duty in Iraq, and his mother, Dinetta Scott, has spoken publicly about him. He died on July 15, 2012, while held at the El Paso County Jail in Texas, and was taken to University Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead. Sources report that jail staff restrained him, including with a mesh mask over his face, while he repeatedly said he could not breathe, and that no ambulance or 911 call was made. The El Paso County medical examiner and sheriff attributed his death to a sickle cell crisis, while his family and attorneys say the treatment he received in jail caused it. The family's lawsuit was later settled with the county.

Cause of death, as reported: Killed by staff (disputed; neglect alleged). The county medical examiner ruled a sickle cell crisis natural, while a forensic pathologist hired for the family's lawsuit called the death a homicide linked to restraint, and the family and attorneys say jail staff failed to call an ambulance or 911.

Reported by: El Paso County Sheriff's Office (the agency that held him); El Paso County medical examiner (medical examiner or coroner); forensic pathologist hired by the county for the lawsuit; family and their attorneys; KFOX14 (reporters).

Lawsuit: His family sued El Paso County over his death, and the county settled the case for nearly half a million dollars, according to reporting.

Sources (11)

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