Inmate Dies Following Medical Emergency at Harris County Jail

HARRIS COUNTY, TX, SEPTEMBER 7, 2023 – A man held in custody at the Harris County Jail passed away after experiencing a medical emergency on Thursday morning. Identified as Raymond Cooper, aged 62, he was in the medical ward of the facility when the emergency occurred.

At around 5:32 a.m., despite the prompt administration of CPR and other life-saving measures, Cooper was pronounced dead at a nearby hospital where he was rushed by the Houston Fire Department EMS. Initial assessments show no clear physical injuries on Cooper, who had been an inmate at the jail since July 15, 2023.

As mandated by state law, the Texas Rangers have undertaken the responsibility of investigating the circumstances surrounding Cooper’s death. This procedure is a requisite in all jail death cases to facilitate an external scrutiny by a separate law enforcement agency.

Simultaneously, the Sheriff’s Office Internal Affairs Division is conducting a probe to discern whether all pertinent policies and procedures were duly observed, a customary practice in instances of inmate deaths. A comprehensive analysis to ascertain the precise cause of death will be executed through an autopsy by the Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences.

Further, the incident has been duly reported to the Texas Commission on Jail Standards, in line with the procedural protocols governing such occurrences. This step ensures adherence to the necessary standards in reviewing and investigating the tragic event to maintain transparency and uphold the law.