FBI announces investigations into deaths at Harris County Jail

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The FBI is opening civil rights investigations into the deaths of two males in Harris County Jail.

In a statement posted Monday afternoon, the FBI introduced that it’s scrutinizing the deaths of Jaquaree Simmons and Jacoby Pillow, who each died in custody following an altercation with jail workers. Their deaths befell nearly two years aside.

These probes come after a request final week from the Harris County Sheriff’s Office, which operates the downtown Houston jail, in accordance with a Monday press release.

“I look forward to learning the FBI’s findings, because we must all know the full truth if we are to improve our operation and make the jail as safe as possible for everyone entrusted into our care,” stated Sheriff Ed Gonzalez within the press launch.

Simmons, a 23-year-old man who had psychological well being points, was arrested in February 2021 on a felony weapons cost. Per week later, he was discovered lifeless in his cell. Harris County’s medical expert would finally rule Simmons’ dying as a homicide.

An investigation by the Harris County Sheriff’s Office determined that workers had used extreme pressure and did not doc it or intervene, on prime of constructing false claims to investigators. As a consequence, the sheriff’s workplace suspended six detention officers and fired 11 others. And earlier this month, a grand jury charged Eric Niles Morales — the 6-foot-5-inch former detention officer who allegedly kneed the 5-foot-4-inch Simmons within the head, struck his head in opposition to a door after which dropped him on his head — with manslaughter.

LaRhonda Biggles, Simmons’ mom, instructed The Texas Tribune on Monday that she’s “excited and happy” to listen to in regards to the FBI’s investigation. She’s not glad with the manslaughter cost in opposition to Morales, noting that it ought to have been extra extreme. She additionally stated extra detention officers ought to face prison expenses past being fired or suspended.

“I just want justice for Jaquaree,” Biggles stated.

“I feel like I owe that to him to get that justice for him because he laid there and died by himself alone. As a mom, that’s horrible. … I’m working really hard to try to keep myself from breaking or cracking because it’s like reliving it all over again, but I am glad to know the [investigations] are there.”

Pillow’s dying in early January is this year’s first death at Harris County Jail.

The 31-year-old man was initially arrested for a misdemeanor allegation of trespassing and was set to be launched on a $100 bond just a few days later. But the Harris County Sheriff’s Office claimed that he assaulted a jail officer, leading to workers utilizing “force” to restrain him.

Pillow was discovered lifeless the next morning, although the sheriff’s workplace stated he had been examined by medical personnel earlier than being returned to his cell.

The Houston Police Department and the Harris County Sheriff’s Office have since opened separate investigations into Pillow’s dying.

“The facts of this case are extremely alarming, and they point to a pattern and culture of inmate abuse that we have seen before in Harris County facilities,” Ben Crump, an lawyer representing Pillow’s household, told FOX26 final month. “There is no legitimate excuse for this young man to have lost his life for an arrest on a misdemeanor charge right as he was about to get out on bail.”

Crump additionally held a press conference earlier on Monday urging the Department of Justice to research deaths at the jail.

Since Pillow’s dying final month, at least three others have died at Harris County Jail. They adopted a record high number of deaths final yr, the place 27 folks died whereas in custody at the county jail. Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo acknowledged last week that “the entire system does have challenges” and introduced initiatives to handle overcrowding, however advocates say extra must be completed.

In its assertion, the FBI stated its investigations will “proceed independently of any state investigations.” The company has additionally acknowledged that it’s going to not be publicly sharing particulars in regards to the ongoing investigations to guard their “integrity and capabilities.”

“These investigations will be fair, thorough, and impartial,” the FBI’s assertion stated.