Man dies in Van Zandt Jail while in custody

VAN ZANDT COUNTY – A man was pronounced dead while under custody at the Van Zandt County Jail last month, according to our news partner KETK. Jason Lane Lopez, 53, was arrested on Sept. 2 and charged with public intoxication after he was found on N. 4th Street in Wills Point, according to a Texas Attorney General’s Office report into his death. Prior to his arrest, Lopez was acting combative and assistance was required from a Van Zandt County Deputy to take him into custody.

Following his arrest, Lopez was transported to the Van Zandt County Jail and continued to resist officers by attempting to get loose of their grasp and thrashing his body before officers placed him on the ground so he could be placed in a restraint chair.

After being restrained, Lopez suddenly stopped moving and breathing, causing EMS to be called. While waiting for EMS to arrive, jail staffers began conducting CPR on Lopez and attempted to revive him by using an Automated external defibrillator (AED), which was unsuccessful.

Once EMS arrived on the scene, Lopez was transported to the Canton Emergency Room and later to a hospital in Tyler, where he was pronounced dead on Sept. 5.