HOUSTON – KPRC 2 Investigates has confirmed an inmate’s death at the Harris County Jail over the weekend.
According to records, Valen Long, 26, died a little after 1:45 a.m. on Sunday at the LBJ Hospital. However, the report claims Long was “among multiple inmates who were smoking an unknown substance around 12:30 a.m.”
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The 26-year-old wound up suffering an apparent medical emergency and lost consciousness shortly after smoking the mysterious substance, and was rushed to a hospital.
Investigators say a second inmate also suffered a medical emergency around the same time but was briefly hospitalized and returned to the jail.
Several investigations are being conducted, the Harris County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement, which you can find below:
“Long’s death has been reported to the Texas Commission on Jail Standards. The Houston Police Department is investigating the death in accordance with a state law that requires all jail deaths to be investigated by an outside law enforcement agency. The Sheriff’s Office Internal Affairs Division is also investigating to determine whether all applicable policies and procedures were followed, which is standard following the death of a person in jail. Long’s cause of death will be determined by an autopsy conducted by the Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences. Long had been in the Harris County Jail for 42 days following his arrest on a felony criminal mischief charge filed by the Houston Police Department.”
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2 Investigates is working to learn more, and once we do, this story will be updated with additional information.
This is a developing story. Check back later for updates.