The Dallas County Medical Examiner’s Office revealed last week that a woman who passed away while in the custody of Dallas police and Dallas Fire-Rescue in May died from the combined toxic effects of cocaine, meth, and PCP.
An employee called 911 on May 26 following a disturbance at a business in the 12000 block of Garland Road. The caller reported that LaDamonyon “DeeDee” Hall, 47, appeared to be under the influence of alcohol.
The Dallas Police Department’s Criminals Investigations Unit released a briefing over the incident that included footage from the officers’ body cams.
Dallas Police Deputy Chief Terrence Rhodes explained that two officers — Jon Leach and Alan Hovis — from the Dallas Police Department responded to the scene at about 12:49 p.m. Two other officers — Benjamin Lambourne and Brandon Pryor — later joined them.
The video began with one officer approaching Hall and asking her, “What’s going on today?” The officers asked her a few more questions, and she responded. Hall also provided her date of birth to the officer.
The officer went back to his vehicle but returned a short time later to find Hall lying on the ground crying. Things soon took a bad turn when Hall began to roll on the ground. She removed her wig and attempted to undress. Hall screamed profanities as the officers cuffed her.
Responding officers finally got the screaming Hall into an ambulance with a spit hood over her head. Video showed Hall fell silent as she was being driven to a hospital.
First responders riding with Hall in the ambulance called her name multiple times but got no response. She was later pronounced dead at about 2:05 p.m. at Baylor University Medical Center.
The examiner’s office had already told The Dallas Morning News two months after Hall passed away that her death was ruled an accident.
Attorney Justin Moore, who is advising Hall’s family, said the family has decided to conduct their own independent autopsy.
“We have no faith in the autopsy report coming from law enforcement,” Moore said. “Her family is exhausted but still hopeful that they can get justice for DeeDee.”
Tonya McClary, head of the Office of Community Police Oversight, said some detectives had attended Hall’s funeral as a gesture of goodwill.
“DPD is trying to move forward to do some good things for the family,” she said, “but I know it may not feel like it’s enough.”
Dallas Police Chief Eddie Garcia and president of the Dallas Fire Fighters Association Jim McDade said after the incident that it appeared both police and paramedics followed proper procedure during Hall’s arrest.
The police officers involved have remained on active duty since the incident; Dallas Fire suspended two of the paramedics who were present, but it is unclear if they have been reinstated.
Neither the Dallas Police Department nor Dallas Fire-Rescue has commented on the medical examiner’s ruling.