Two Texas Department of Criminal Justice employees have been arrested in connection with the death of an inmate at the William P. “Bill” Clements Unit in Amarillo, according to jail records and a statement from the agency.

TDCJ officials said the arrests stem from an incident early Sunday, in which staff failed to render aid after an inmate lit a fire inside his cell. According to the agency, employees entered the cell at about 3:19 a.m. Oct. 5 and found the inmate unresponsive. He was pronounced dead less than an hour later, at 4:09 a.m.

“The agency is working closely with OIG and the Special Prosecution Unit so that those staff who allegedly failed to act will be held accountable and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,” the department said in a written statement.

Crystal Jane

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