Tyler Man Dies In Smith County Jail; Rangers Investigate

**Tyler Man Dies in Smith County Jail Custody**

An unnamed Tyler man died Friday morning, May 31, hours after being booked into the Smith County Jail, prompting an investigation by the Texas Rangers into the in-custody death.

The man was booked into the Smith County Jail in Tyler on Thursday, May 30, at approximately 3:00 PM. He was detained on a probation violation warrant related to a prior drug charge. Authorities confirmed he had been cleared by medical staff during the booking process.

Early Friday morning, May 31, around 3:00 AM, jail staff found the man unresponsive in his cell. They immediately began CPR and called paramedics. He was transported to UT Health East Texas (www.uthealtheasttexas.com) in Tyler, where he was unfortunately pronounced dead at approximately 4:00 AM that same day.

Justice of the Peace Gary W. Alfred ordered an autopsy to determine the cause of death. Officials are awaiting the results of both the autopsy and toxicology reports. The man's family has been notified of his death. The Texas Rangers are handling the ongoing investigation, a standard procedure for deaths occurring in custodial settings.