Roberto Gallegos
Roberto Gallegos, 58, died on September 16, 2017, in his cell at the El Paso County Jail Annex in Texas, where he was being held. According to the El Paso Times, he had been placed alone in a segregation cell after a problem with another person held there. Sheriff Richard Wiles said he died of natural causes linked to health problems, including a ruptured bowel, and that the failure to conduct required checks did not appear to have caused his death. Two detention officers were later arrested for falsely documenting cell-block checks that were never carried out, and a state inspection found the jail noncompliant.
Cause of death, as reported: Died of illness (neglect alleged). Sheriff's officials say Roberto Gallegos died of health problems, and say the failure to conduct required checks did not appear to cause his death, while two detention officers were arrested for falsely documenting checks that did not occur.
Reported by: Sheriff's officials, El Paso County Sheriff's Office (the agency that held him); Texas Office of the Attorney General custodial death report.