By Jacob Beltran
San Antonio Express-News
BEXAR COUNTY, Texas — A Bexar County Jail inmate’s attempt to kill himself — the third incident in more than a month — was interrupted by a detention deputy Tuesday afternoon, officials said.
The deputy was making routine checks on inmates at 3:13 p.m. when he saw a 42-year-old man trying to take his own life, according to the Bexar County Sheriff’s Office.
The deputy immediately entered the cell with a cutting tool and called for additional assistance, officials said.
More deputies and medical staff arrived and began assessing the inmate. He became responsive and was talking to medical staff, officials said.
The inmate was taken to University Hospital as a precaution.
The inmate, who was not identified, has been in jail since Oct. 9. He was arrested on multiple charges including aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, assault of family by choking or strangulation, evading arrest or detention, and possession of a controlled substance.
He was remanded without bond, officials said.
The sheriff’s office internal affairs, public integrity, and criminal investigations division are conducting an investigation into the incident.
Deputies stopped two other suicide attempts at the jail last month.
On Sept. 7, a deputy interrupted a suicide attempt by a 53-year-old inmate. He was jailed on Sept. 5 on a charge of injury to the elderly.
On Sept. 28, a detention deputy interrupted a 47-year-old man who was trying to kill himself at 3:09 p.m. He was hospitalized in critical condition.
The inmate was jailed Sept. 26 on a count of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, between 4 grams and 200 grams, officials said. His bail was set at $12,500.
On Sept. 30, Sherman Andrews, 48, was arrested and charged with tampering with government records in relation to the incident. Andrews was working as a detention deputy when he allegedly falsified documents to hide that he did not perform complete checks as the inmate attempted suicide.
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