A 47-year-old was pronounced dead this week almost two hours after being released from a hospital while in police custody, police say.
Frank Ruiz died Sept. 21 after he was arrested on a criminal mischief charge and booked at the Dallas County jail, according to a news release from Dallas police.
During his booking process at the Dallas County jail, the 47-year-old man was unable to stand, was carried, became unresponsive and later died, police said in the release.
This is the third death in custody this year, according to police.
Around 10:24 p.m. Monday, officers said they received calls regarding a man yelling outside a residence in the 1600 block of south Hampton Road. It was later determined the man was Ruiz, police said.
Crime in The News
Around 10:50 p.m., the call was ungraded to a burglary when Ruiz allegedly tried to enter the home.
By the time officers arrived at 11:06 p.m., police said the call had changed to a shooting. A person at the home claimed they had shot Ruiz after he broke their glass door with a brick, police said.
In the 911 call shared by Dallas police a gunshot can be heard as the caller explains Ruiz was attempting to enter the home.
Officers did not find gunshot wounds on Ruiz as he was detained and handcuffs were placed on him, police said.
As Ruiz was put in an ambulance to be taken to a hospital, he said he recently taken prescription medication, drank alcohol and smoked methamphetamine, according to police.
Ruiz also said he had a history of seizures and paramedics at the scene noticed he had an elevated heart rate, according to police.
Ruiz arrived at the hospital at about 11:35 p.m. He was released and taken to the county jail at about 2:25 a.m., police said.
During his initial screening at the jail Ruiz was unable to stand, police said. He was then taken by police and Dallas Sheriff deputies by elevator to the jail’s book-in area, then to prisoner search area.
As detention service officers and police carried Ruiz back to the book in line at about 3:13 a.m., police said Ruiz became unresponsive.
First responders and medical staff at the jail performed life-saving measures on Ruiz and continued until he arrived at a hospital around 4 a.m..
Ruiz was pronounced deceased at 4:11 a.m., according to police.
The Dallas County District Attorney’s Office was notified and will conduct its own investigation. The Office of Community Police Oversight was also notified, officials said.