Another Inmate Death in Gregg County

LONGVIEW — Gregg County officials confirmed Tuesday afternoon that the county has had its second jail death in less than six months. That’s according to KETK and the Longview News-Journal. During a specially called press conference, Sheriff Maxey Cerliano said 30-year-old Micah Aaron Garner of Longview was pronounced dead Monday evening at the jail. Inmate Amy Lynn Cowling died in December. Garner was in a medical holding cell at the time. He didn’t respond during a 7:30 p.m. medical check. Longview Fire Department officials said emergency medical services were dispatched to the north jail at around 10 p.m. Monday, but no one was transported from the jail.

Garner was arrested at around 5:15 p.m. Friday by sheriff’s deputies on charges of unauthorized use of a vehicle and forgery of a financial instrument. He also had two outstanding Lakeport warrants for traffic violations. Garner was being held on bonds totaling $5,000 when he died. Adan Munoz, director of the Texas Commission on Jail Standards, said the commission was notified about the death Tuesday morning, but he was unsure if representatives would be coming to Gregg County to perform an inspection.

On Dec. 29, 33-year-old Cowling was pronounced dead at an area hospital after being found unresponsive in a Gregg County Jail separation cell. Her death was ruled “probable” seizure due to methadone and Xanax withdrawals. Cowling’s manner of death was ruled undetermined despite a medical examiner’s request to call it “suspicious.” Officials have said she was denied needed medication because they were on the jail’s unapproved medication list. Texas Rangers Jason Dudley and Brent Davis are investigating the most recent death.