EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — The 46-year-old man who died in custody of the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office on Friday, March 20, has been identified.

As KTSM previously reported, at around 5 p.m. on Friday, deputies were dispatched to the 12500 block of Campo Bello about a “subject disturbance.”

Sheriff’s Office investigating in-custody death

Preliminary information provided by EPCSO commander of the Criminal Investigation Division, Jerome Washington, said that the man, later identified as 46-year-old Roel Contreras, was acting “erratic” in the area, as he was yelling, screaming, climbing into people’s yards and attempting to get into some properties.

According to witnesses, Contreras was seen running full speed, screaming and jumping over fences.

Deputies arrived on scene and found Contreras in an open field with some of his clothing missing. As deputies began to approach Contreras, he was still acting erratic, yelling and rolling on the ground, Washington said.

He “seemed very incoherent,” Washington said.

Deputies attempted to make contact with Contreras to do a welfare check and to see how he was doing, but he became combative and deputies placed restraints on Contreras when he was on the ground.

Washington noted that no tasers or weapons were used during the interaction. He said there was “minimal” use of force to place restraints on Contreras.

Medical services were nearby and asked to “stage” for safety until the scene was secure. As deputies escorted Contreras to a shaded area and wait for medical services, “he became unresponsive,” Washington said.

Deputies immediately began performing life-saving measures and CPR. Medical services arrived and continued to perform CPR, transporting Contreras to Del Sol Medical Center.

At 6:21 p.m., medical staff pronounced Contreras dead.

Washington said an autopsy will be performed by the El Paso County Medical Examiner’s Office at a later date. Results of possible drugs or alcohol in Contreras’ body won’t be known until the autopsy, which could take several weeks.

The Texas Rangers and the Texas Department of Public Safety are conducting their own independent investigation. The Sheriff’s Office is also conducting its own internal investigation for any policy violations.

“Deputies did not have time to determine what charges they had, if it was mental health issue or it was narcotics, cause ultimately, they had to place restraints on him because he was combative. Shortly thereafter, he became unresponsive. He was heavy breathing. It was too early on to make a decision,” Washington said.

Washington said that while the death did not happen in a jail facility, the Sheriff’s Office will still prepare a report for the Attorney General’s Office.

Three deputies have been placed on administrative leave while the investigations are ongoing, but Washington states that it’s not due to any wrongdoing. It’s just part of protocol, he said.

“Any loss of life is unfortunate. Sometimes it is unavoidable. It’s a very traumatic event for everyone involved — the family, the Sheriff’s Office. Given under the circumstances, it is very tragic. However, we do want to remind the community that we are doing our best. Our deputies that show up every day are committed to providing public safety. It is very important that our deputies operate at the highest standard. We believe they always do,” Washington said.

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