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Video: Inmate removed from jail roof after refusing to come down

At one point Gustavo Zavala-Garcia could be seen kicking and punching firefighters who attempted to bring him down

Tyler Morning Telegraph

SMITH COUNTY, Texas — Smith County Jail inmate Gustavo Zavala-Garcia has been removed from the roof of the Smith County Jail downtown where he perched himself on a basketball goal and refused to come down for about 30 minutes Friday afternoon.

At one point Zavala-Garcia could be seen kicking and punching firefighters who attempted to bring him down.

Smith County Sheriff’s Office Public Information Officer Darrell Coslin said Zavala-Garcia had been on his scheduled recreation time, which is required by state law. Zavala-Garcia has his recreation time alone in the confined courtyard on the roof of the jail. The area is entirely enclosed by what appears to be a chain-link fence.

At some point in his recreation time, he climbed up a wall of the fence onto framework attached to the roof that formerly held a basketball goal.

“He was taken up there for recreation and tried to climb out, but it’s totally enclosed, so he’s just on top of a basketball goal,” said Smith County Sheriff Larry Smith. “He is not in any danger unless he jumps. If he does jump, we have people with suicide netting and we’ve even put some mattresses down. Right now we just want to wait him out.”

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Once alerted to the incident, jail staff, Tyler fire and rescue and a crisis intervention officer responded to the scene. The officer tried to negotiate with Zavala-Garcia.

A ladder was set up, so Garcia could come down if he desired, and an inflatable airbag was placed under the area in case he fell. However, Zavala-Garcia refused to cooperate and come down, Coslin said.

At that point two sheriff’s deputies, at least one of whom had a helmet on, climbed up the ladder to try to remove the inmate, but Zavala-Garcia fought back, kicking and swinging his arms, before falling to the inflatable airbag and out of sight.

Coslin said the inmate would be taken to the jail’s medical ward to be examined.

Zavala-Garcia is charged with capital murder in the death of Kayla Gomez-Orozco, who was found dead in November in a well on property where was he living.

After his initial arrest, Zavala-Garcia was on suicide watch. However, Coslin said he was unsure if Zavala-Garcia remained on suicide watch.

SAFETY

How do official contain an inmate who has nothing to lose? Retired Smith County Sheriff J.B. Smith held scores of high-risk inmates, some facing capital murder charges, during his 30-year tenure.

He says keeping inmates safe - from others and from themselves - is a sheriff’s hardest task.

“The responsibility of the sheriff when it comes to the jail is enormous,” said Smith, who retired in 2012. “It’s his No. 1 major concern. Inside that jail, you’ve got people with every problem you can imagine. It’s a 24-hour thing. There’s no rest from it.”

That’s especially true of inmates who are charged with capital crimes. They’re often despondent and desperate, he said.

“When you’re holding a capital suspect, they require a lot more supervision, for a number of reasons,” Smith said. “Often, it’s not just to protect them from other prisoners, but to protect them from themselves. We have a tendency as citizens to say ‘who cares?’ - but the sheriff has to care. That individual is their responsibility. We have to keep them safe and get them ready for trial.”

This story is developing and information will continue to be added as its available.

Zavala-Garcia faces arraignment on Tuesday.

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©2017 Tyler Morning Telegraph

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