DA: Jailers Should Be Investigated in Inmate Death

ODESSA, TX — Wallace Howell died in police custody after he was tased and restrained in June by jail staff at the Ector County Detention Center.

According to the Ector County District Attorney Bobby Bland, the death was ruled an accident, but he still believes the deputies should be investigated for using excessive force.

According to the autopsy report, Howell had high doses of meth in his system, which led to a cause of death of methamphetamine toxicity.

Per previous reports, Howell had been arrested after he allegedly failed to stop for a Crane County Sheriff’s deputy and then led him on a pursuit into Ector County.

Howell was later involved in an altercation with an inmate after he was placed in a holding cell. When jail staff intervened in the altercation Howell “began to charge staff members.”

Howell was then tased several times and then placed in a wrap, a police tool that restrains a person’s arms and legs.

Howell was found unresponsive after he was placed in a padded cell.

According to Bland, the Grand Jury did not return any indictments alleging criminal responsibility against any officers involved in this case.