A custodial death report on Brownsville inmate Edgar Alejandro Hernandez, who was found dead in a city jail cell Nov. 29, 2022, said EMS personnel found a piece of white toilet paper containing a small clear plastic bag with a white powdery substance inside of it on Hernandez.
Texas law requires law enforcement agencies to file custodial death reports with the Texas Attorney General’s Office if an inmate dies in their custody.
“At approximately 2:47 a.m., while EMS assisted Mr. Hernandez, EMS personnel discovered a piece of white toilet paper containing a small clear plastic bag with a white powdery substance inside of it on Mr. Hernandez’s person (EMS personnel left the object on Mr. Hernandez’s stomach area after the discovery). EMS pronounced Mr. Hernandez deceased at 2:48 a.m.,” a portion of the custodial death report read.
Hernandez, 28, was found unresponsive at about 2:30 a.m. Nov. 29, said Investigator Martin Sandoval, spokesman for Brownsville PD, in a previous interview.
A detention officer performing routine checks spotted Hernandez and saw that he was not moving.
“When he called him, he was not responding,” Sandoval said.
The detention officer went inside the cell and noticing Hernandez was unconscious began to perform CPR and an ambulance was called.
According to the custodial death report, two Brownsville police officers also assisted in performing CPR on Hernandez until EMS arrived.
Hernandez was pronounced dead at 3 a.m., and an autopsy was ordered. The results are pending. The cause of Hernandez’s death is unknown.
The conclusion of the custodial death report states, “Crime Scene Investigator Alejandro Navarro located and took custody of the item on Mr. Hernandez’s stomach area that was discovered earlier by EMS personnel. The item was booked in as evidence. The Brownsville Police Department Criminal Investigations Unit is investigating the case.”
Hernandez was taken into custody at about 9:30 a.m. Nov. 28, on a public intoxication charge, and no force was used to effect the arrest, Sandoval said.
There are no signs of trauma or suicide.
Hernandez had been in jail all day Nov. 28, and Sandoval said routine checks are conducted throughout the day on the inmates in the cells.
“There are routine checks conducted throughout the day. There are physical checks conducted throughout the day and also visual checks because we have a camera in every single cell,” Sandoval said.
The custodial death report also states that Hernandez did not try to harm himself, did not try to physically harm the officers who arrested him, did not verbally threaten them, did not try to take their weapon, nor try to escape while being admitted to booked into the jail.
