An inmate suffered a medical emergency while being held at the El Paso County Jail Annex and died at a hospital, authorities said.
The inmate suffered a “medical emergency” on Friday morning, May 8, at the jail annex, according to an El Paso County Sheriff’s Office statement released by spokeswoman Priscilla I. Contreras. The jail annex is located at 12501 Montana Ave. in far East El Paso.
The inmate’s name, age and suspected cause of death have not been released. The inmate’s next of kin have been notified of the death.
Detention staff responded to the medical emergency with medical personnel and emergency responders providing lifesaving measures, the statement said. The inmate was taken to a hospital, where he later died.
The Texas Commission on Jail Standards has been notified of the death, the statement said. The death is under investigation by the Texas Rangers, the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office Major Crimes Unit and Internal Affairs, and the Texas Commission on Jail Standards.
“The El Paso County Sheriff’s Office remains committed to transparency and accountability throughout the investigative process,” the statement said.
No further information has been released. A custodial death report has not been filed with the Texas Attorney General’s Office since it remains under investigation. The custodial death report must be filed with the AG’s office within 30 days of the death.
El Paso County Sheriff’s Office’s in-custody deaths in 2026
There have been two other in-custody deaths involving the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office so far in 2026, the Texas Attorney General’s Office and the El Paso Times have reported.
The first death was George Vargas, 27, on Jan. 25 at the El Paso County jail, 601 E. Overland Ave., in Downtown El Paso. Vargas was a federal inmate being held at the Downtown jail. He was arrested by U.S. Marshals on suspicion of in-transit/importation of a controlled substance (methamphetamine), according to the custodial death report.
He fell ill and was having trouble breathing before 6:50 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 23. He was taken to University Medical Center of El Paso, where he died on Jan. 25. Vargas’ cause of death is being ruled natural causes.
The second in-custody death was during a March 20 arrest in San Elizario. Deputies responded to a report of a man, 46-year-old Roel Contreras, acting erratically, jumping into yards, screaming and taking off his clothes, El Paso County Sheriff’s Office Cmdr. Jerome Washington said at the time of his death.
Roel Contreras allegedly became combative as deputies spoke with him. Deputies had to place restraints on him. No Taser electric-stun guns and no other weapons were used during the arrest, Washington said.
Deputies escorted Roel Contreras to a shaded area to wait for paramedics, but he became unresponsive, Washington said. Deputies started first aid and CPR. Paramedics arrived and took Roel Contreras to Del Sol Medical Center, where he later died.
The cause of death is not stated in a custodial death report, as an autopsy report remains pending from the El Paso County Medical Examiner’s Office, the custodial death report states.
There were 10 sheriff’s office in-custody deaths at the Downtown jail and jail annex in 2025.
Aaron Martinez covers the criminal justice system for the El Paso Times. He may be reached at amartinez1@elpasotimes.com.
This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: Inmate dies at El Paso jail annex after suffering medical emergency
Reporting by Aaron Martinez, El Paso Times / El Paso Times
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