Federal Jury Reaches Verdict in Coleman County Jail Death Case

COLEMAN, TX — A federal jury in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas, San Angelo Division, has found no liability on the part of Coleman County or the Coleman County Sheriff’s Office in the 2017 in-custody death of Derrek Monroe. 

The verdict concludes a civil lawsuit filed by Monroe’s family, which alleged that county policies and jail practices contributed to his death after a suicide attempt inside the Coleman County Jail.

In a written statement attributed to Coleman County, officials said they are “grateful for the jury’s careful consideration of the facts in this difficult case” and offered condolences to the Monroe family.

"Nothing about this case has been easy, and we understand the lasting impact on all who were involved," information stated. "We remain committed to the safety of those in our custody and to the continued improvement of our policies and training for the staff who serve our community every day." 

Monroe died in 2017, three days after being arrested on a drug charge. According to earlier court filings, he had reported to jail staff that he was suicidal during intake. He later attempted suicide using a telephone cord inside his cell. It was reported that he had been hanging for 10 minutes before receving any attention. The lawsuit alleged that the cord’s length violated rules set by the Texas Commission on Jail Standards and that staff did not respond quickly enough. County officials denied those allegations throughout the case.

The jury’s decision ends the county’s legal exposure in the matter.