Police say Robert Gomez, 30, was arrested for public intoxication at around 6pm on November 19 and, due to his combativeness at the scene and in a patrol vehicle, he was booked into the HPD Central Jail at 61 Riesner Street. Gomez was medically screened and cleared by jail medical personnel.
Once in custody, Gomez was then placed in an individual cell, in view of other prisoners. Shortly after jail personnel checked on Gomez, he removed his T-shirts and hung himself from his cell's bars.
Jail personnel were notified and provided first aid, but paramedics pronounced Gomez deceased.
An autopsy by the Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences will determine his cause of death.
Police say the incident is being investigated as an in-custody death since it occurred in the presence of HPD personnel. As is customary in such cases, the incident is being investigated by the HPD Homicide and Internal Affairs Divisions.
