Two 40-year-old men died this week after suffering apparent medical emergencies while being held at the Tarrant County Jail, according to the Tarrant County Sheriff's Office.

The sheriff's office said the first inmate died Monday, June 15, after a cellmate reported he was having a medical emergency. Jail personnel provided life-saving measures before the man was taken to John Peter Smith Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

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The sheriff's office said the man had refused a medical assessment when he was booked into the county jail the day before by the River Oaks Police Department.

A second 40-year-old inmate died Tuesday, June 16, after he was found kneeling beside his bed during a routine cell check, the sheriff's office said. Officials said the man did not respond to  verbal greetings from a detention officer.  When the officer entered the cell, they determined the man was unresponsive due to an unspecified medical emergency.


Jail staff again provided life-saving measures, and the man was taken to JPS Hospital, where he was pronounced dead, according to the sheriff's office.

The sheriff's office said the second man also refused a medical assessment when he was booked into the jail on June 14 by the Fort Worth Police Department.

Officials with the sheriff's office said staff members work to identify medical and mental health concerns during the booking process, but that they cannot force the inmates to undergo a medical assessment.

 Many individuals entering our facility arrive with significant, long-term health issues related to substance abuse or other medical conditions. Our staff works diligently to identify medical and mental health concerns through our screening process the moment someone comes into our custody. However, even with these efforts, we cannot compel individuals to follow the medical guidance provided by the doctors and nurses from John Peter Smith Hospital,  the sheriff's office said in a statement.  We remain committed to offe

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