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Harris County jail inmate dies at Ben Taub hospital after suffering ‘medical emergency’

Fire EMS first Responder (KPRC2/Click2Houston.com)

HOUSTON, Texas – Houston police are investigating the death of an inmate who died at Ben Taub Hospital last week.

On Wednesday, Dec. 17, 47-year-old Christopher Mendez was pronounced dead at Ben Taub Hospital after suffering an apparent medical emergency on Dec. 16.

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Mendez, who was housed in the Harris County Jail, was arrested on a drug charge.

Mendez death has since been reported to the Texas Commission on Jail Standards, and the Houston Police Department is investigating his death in accordance with a state law that requires all jail deaths to be investigated by an outside law enforcement agency.

Mendez’s cause of death will be determined by an autopsy conducted by the Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences.


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