AUSTIN, Texas — The Williamson County Sheriff's Office (WCSO) and the Round Rock Police Department are investigating after an Austin man died while in custody at the Williamson County Jail.
According to the WCSO, 44-year-old Cassis Griffin was found unresponsive in his cell on July 25. Corrections officers attempted life-saving measures and contacted the Georgetown Fire Department and EMS. Griffin was taken to the hospital, where he died shortly after arriving.
WCSO officials have been in contact with the Williamson County District Attorney’s Office regarding the investigation. Given that Griffin was in custody at the time of his death, Williamson County detectives are treating it as an in-custody death and detectives immediately requested an outside local law enforcement to conduct a separate, independent investigation.
“At this time, it appears to be a natural medical condition that caused Mr. Griffin's death, but we are awaiting further information and toxicology findings from the Travis County Medical Examiner’s Office," Commander John Foster with the Williamson County Criminal Investigations Division said. "Investigators will continue to investigate the circumstances of Mr. Griffin's death until we have further information from toxicology reports and an official ruling from the Travis County Medical Examiner’s Office.”
Griffin was being held in the Williamson County Jail while awaiting transfer to a state prison to serve a sentence for felony DWI.
The investigation is still ongoing.