Progreso police reports municipal jail death to Texas AG

A 36-year-old man died after being found unresponsive in a holding cell at the Progreso municipal jail more than a month ago, but his cause of death remains unknown, according to a custodial death report filed by Chief Cesar Solis with the Texas Attorney General’s Office.

The report identifies the deceased as Joshua Lyman Stapleton, who was arrested on charges of driving while intoxicated and possession of a controlled substance.

Progreso police officer Ernesto Lozano had pulled over a vehicle driven by Stapleton on Feb. 26 at 5:40 p.m. for traffic violations, according the report.

“Two male subjects were arrested without incident,” the report stated.

Stapleton’s passenger was charged with public intoxication and possession of a controlled substance.

The report says police found narcotics in Stapleton’s vehicle, but doesn’t specify what kind.

After the arrest, Progreso police say both men were placed in a holding cell at 6:10 p.m.

“On this same date, at about 8:30p (sic), Officer Justin Lee Becerra of the Progreso Police Department, conducted a welfare check, to include body temperature checks, of all prisoners in PD custody. Officer Becerra found all prisoners, to include, Joshua Lyman Stapleton, alert, conscious and displaying no signs of distress,” the report stated.

A little more than an hour later, that was not the case.

“At 9:45 p.m., Officers checked on prisoners in custody after being alerted by other prisoners that one of the male prisoners, Joshua Lyman Stapleton was unresponsive. Officers found Joshua Lyman Stapleton in a seated position inside the cell,” the report states.

The report says Becerra immediately requested EMS and began administering CPR “to include the deployment of an ammonia pack, and a dose of narcan.”

EMS transported Stapleton to the hospital, where Progreso police say the man died.

The report also notes Stapleton had been receiving treatment for a medical condition that caused his death after he was taken to jail, as well as saying it could not be determined whether his death was a result of a pre-existing medical condition.

Autopsy results are pending and Progreso police say Stapleton’s cause of death is unknown.

Progreso police say Stapleton died at 12:44 a.m.

“The Hidalgo County Sheriff’s Office was called in for the in custody death investigation and the scene was turned over to them,” the report stated.

State and local law enforcement agencies are required to file reports on people who die in custody with the Texas Attorney General’s Office.