Incident Overview
A 41-year-old man who was treated at a hospital for symptoms of drug overdose Sunday later died in Dallas police custody during a robbery investigation, police said.
Jerrell Johnson, 41, died Sunday afternoon after police found him in the parking lot of a 7-Eleven near the 5600 block of Lemmon Avenue, where a worker was assaulted, police said in a news release.
Initial Incident Report
Police first received a call from a store at about 3:49 p.m. that a man, later identified as Johnson, was inside acting erratically and wandering through aisles, police said. As Johnson was leaving, he was accused of spitting in the face of a man inside the store, according to police.
Johnson then arrived at a nearby 7-Eleven at about 3:51 p.m. While inside, Johnson ran behind the counter and demanded money, police said.
Robbery and Assault
The employees attempted to run to a back office and close a door but were stopped by Johnson, who police said grabbed a female employee by her neck.
The employee was pulled back to the cash register and forced to open it, police said.
The woman was able to escape outside, but Johnson followed and the assault continued, police said.
911 Call and Police Response
In 911 call recordings released by police, people can be heard yelling at Johnson to let the woman go and pleading for him to get off of her. Witnesses were able to separate Johnson and the female employee before officers arrived, police said.
As officers pulled up to the gas station at about 3:55 p.m., Johnson could be seen in provided police body-camera video lying on his back outside in the parking lot.
Arrest and Medical Assistance
Officers made Johnson roll over as they put handcuffs on him. As an officer attempted to talk with Johnson, they noticed that he could not sit up on his own.
In the body-camera footage, two officers are shown physically supporting Johnson as he sat in the parking lot. Medical assistance was called soon after.
Johnson was taken to a hospital by Dallas Fire-Rescue and died.
Previous Medical Treatment
It was later learned Johnson had visited a hospital a little over an hour before he appeared at the first store. Johnson was treated earlier that morning for symptoms of a drug overdose and excited delirium, police said. He was released from the hospital at 2:07 p.m.
This is the second death in Dallas police custody this year. Horace John Groves III, 55, was the first person to die while in custody on April 29.
Conclusion
The incident highlights the importance of addressing mental health and substance abuse issues in the community. It also raises questions about the handling of individuals in police custody, particularly those who may be experiencing medical emergencies.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What happened to Jerrell Johnson?
A: Jerrell Johnson, 41, died Sunday afternoon after police found him in the parking lot of a 7-Eleven near the 5600 block of Lemmon Avenue, where a worker was assaulted.
Q: What was Johnson’s medical condition before the incident?
A: Johnson had visited a hospital a little over an hour before he appeared at the first store, where he was treated for symptoms of a drug overdose and excited delirium.
Q: How did the police respond to the incident?
A: The police received a call from a store at about 3:49 p.m. and arrived at the scene at about 3:55 p.m. They found Johnson lying on his back outside in the parking lot and attempted to talk with him, but he could not sit up on his own.
Q: What is excited delirium?
A: Excited delirium is a condition characterized by extreme agitation, aggression, and hallucinations, often associated with substance abuse or mental health issues.
