An autopsy determined that a man died from meth intoxication after being arrested by El Paso County sheriff’s deputies during a disturbance in San Elizario earlier this year.
The El Paso County Medical Examiner’s Office ruled that the death of Roel Contreras, 46, was “accidental” and the result of acute methamphetamine toxicity with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease as a contributing factor, the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office stated in a recent update.
Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, also known as ASCVD, is a heart disease caused by the buildup of plaque on the arterial walls, according to the American Heart Association.
Contreras died on March 20 at Del Sol Medical Center after losing consciousness after being taken into custody earlier that evening, sheriff’s officials said.
Man dies after arrest by El Paso County sheriff’s deputies
The incident occurred about 5 p.m. after deputies responded to reports about a man acting erratically, yelling and climbing into yards and attempting to enter properties in the 12000 block of Campo Bello Drive, sheriff’s officials said.
Deputies located the man, later identified as Contreras, in an open field where Contreras was acting erratically.
The Sheriff’s Office released body camera video showing deputies approach Contreras, who is screaming and groaning while on the ground. Dirt covers his head and arms and he is wearing only black socks, boxer briefs and a black T-shirt with a satanic Baphomet image in front.
“Relax, relax,” deputies repeatedly tell Contreras on the video as they handcuff him behind his back without much of a struggle and then walk him to the shade of nearby trees to await paramedics.
“My heart, bro,” Contreras said at one point as he keeps groaning. After apparently trying to kick, deputies shackle him by the ankles as he lies on his stomach, shortly before he stops moving in the video clip.
After Contreras lost consciousness, deputies started first aid before paramedics arrived within minutes, sheriff’s Cmdr. Jerome Washington, who heads the Criminal Investigations Division, said at a news conference the day after the in-custody death.
Internal Affairs: Deputies acted within policy
Three investigations looked into the in-custody death as is standard practice.
An administrative review by the Sheriff’s Office Internal Affairs Division found that deputies acted within policy and found no policy violations, the Sheriff’s Office stated.
The Sheriff’s Office Major Crimes Unit and the Texas Rangers conducted their own investigations. The Texas Rangers presented their case to the El Paso District Attorney’s Office for review, sheriff’s officials said.
No charges in connection with the death were announced.
Daniel Borunda may be reached at dborunda@elpasotimes.com and @BorundaDaniel on X.
This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: Meth intoxication caused man’s death during El Paso County arrest
Reporting by Daniel Borunda, El Paso Times / El Paso Times
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Daniel Borunda, El Paso Times | USA TODAY Network
