A 40-year-old man has died while in custody at Tarrant County Jail, according to the Tarrant County Sheriff's Office Tuesday.
The man -- identified as James Johnson through court and medical examiner records -- was in his cell Monday when his cellmate saw him experiencing a "medical emergency,"
Johnson was transported to John Peter Smith Hospital, where he was pronounced dead later that day, according to a press release.
The sheriff's office claims Johnson refused to cooperate or consent to a medical screening, which is required for all inmates after taken into custody.
"Jail personnel cannot force an individual to provide medical history or comply with a medical evaluation," the press release read.
Johnson was arrested by River Oaks Police Department on a violating a bond or protective order charge and booked into the county jail Sunday, according to the sheriff's office.
The Tarrant County Medical Examiner’s Office will determine his cause and manner of death.
This is the second death at the county jail this year.
John Barr, 36, was found unresponsive in his cell on April 19 and died later that day at JPS Hospital.
Editor's note: This story was updated to include the identity of the man who died in jail custody.
Penelope Rivera is KERA's Tarrant County Accountability Reporter. Got a tip? Email Penelope Rivera at privera@kera.org.
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