According to TCSO, the Texas Commission on Jail Standards found the man’s death didn’t meet the criteria for an in-custody death.
FORT WORTH, Texas — A 61-year-old man who was hospitalized while in custody died last week hours after he was released from custody, Tarrant County officials said.
This death came just days after two in-custody deaths at the Tarrant County Jail were reported earlier this month.
According to the Tarrant County Sheriff’s Office, Victor Runnels was arrested on a parole violation on June 11 and booked into the jail with extensive and ongoing medical issues. On June 24, Runnels reportedly had a medical event, and was admitted to JPS Hospital for treatment.
The next day, TCSO says Runnels was released from custody. He died later that evening.
According to TCSO, the Texas Commission on Jail Standards investigated the incident and found it didn’t meet the criteria for an in-custody death.
“Every day, people arrive at our jail already sick, struggling with addiction, or dealing with long‑term untreated medical conditions,” TCSO said in a statement. “By the time they come into our care, many are diagnosed with illnesses that are already in advanced stages. Working alongside our partners at JPS Health Network, we provide top‑tier medical care to every person in our facility. Unfortunately, there are cases where an individual’s illness is so advanced that there is no curative treatment available.”
It is unclear what medical issues Runnels was suffering from or what caused his death.
The Tarrant County Sheriff’s Office has also opened a new, state-of-the-art training facility this month amid community scrutiny over a string of deaths at the jail in the last several years under Sheriff Bill Waybourn.