2 inmates died at Harris County Jail this month

Two people have died this month after being taken to the Harris County Jail, including a 57year-old homeless man who was processing into the lockup on a drug charge.

Israel Iglesias, 57, was charged on Feb. 1 with felony delivery of a controlled substance for an alleged drug deal on Oct. 20, 2020, according to court records. He was brought to the Harris County Joint Processing Center’s intake area on Feb. 8 and was awaiting a medical evaluation when he experienced a medical episode, said Jason Spencer, spokesman of the Harris County Sheriff’s Office, which operates the jail.

He died the next day. Another inmate died a week later in a separate incident on Feb. 17, the day after he was involved in an altercation with a detention officer, Spencer said.

Houston police officers say Iglesias sold 0.6 grams of methamphetamine to undercover narcotics officers, who had been conducting an investigation at a homeless camp in the northside.

The officers arrived at the camp, 700 Booth St., after receiving a narcotics complaint, according to charging documents. Authorities saw Iglesias and asked him where they could buy methamphetamine, and Iglesias said he could get some from another man in the camp.

After the officers gave Iglesias money, he went to another tent and came back with a clear bag of what appeared to be methamphetamine, the officers said. They gave him a tip, later tested the substance and determined it was methamphetamine, they alleged.

He was being held on a $1,500 surety bond, meaning he would typically have to pay $150 to be released. Iglesias had been convicted in December 1983 of burglary in Wisconsin, and again in 2004 on assault of a public servant in Webb County. He had an Immigrations and Customs Enforcement hold in 2009.

Spencer said a second inmate, who is still unidentified, was found unresponsive in a Harris County Jail cell on Feb. 17. The cause of death is unknown and will be determined by an autopsy.

The man, who was in his early 20s, was involved in an altercation with a detention officer the night before, according to the sheriff ’s office. The officer reported he struck the man in self-defense around 6:45 p.m. after the defendant attacked him inside the downtown jail at 701 San Jacinto.

The man fell to the floor and was taken to the jail’s medical clinic, sheriff ’s office Spencer said. He was evaluated and determined to be healthy enough to return to his cell. He was pronounced deceased the next day at the hospital at 1:27 p.m.

Houston police will investigate the death, as required by state law.