In a deeply troubling case from Lufkin, Texas, the family of a 33-year-old Army veteran, Glenn Smallwood Jr., is suing county officials after he died in jail while going through what they call a clear mental and medical emergency. His family says he was mocked, ignored, and denied life-saving care while strapped to a restraint chair, vomiting and unconscious.
Arrested During Mental Health Crisis
Glenn Smallwood Jr., a father of three and an Army veteran, was arrested in July 2023 for public intoxication. But his family says this wasn’t just a case of someone being drunk or high—he was in serious mental distress.
Earlier that day, staff at the Burke Center, a local mental health facility, had tried to get him transferred to a hospital because he was in “active psychosis”—he was confused, paranoid, shaking, and bleeding from his mouth. But before the paperwork was completed, Smallwood left the center.
Soon after, Lufkin police found him behaving strangely and took him to the Angelina County Jail instead of a hospital—even though a mental health warrant had already been issued for him.
Jail Staff Laughed While He Suffered
According to a federal lawsuit filed by Smallwood’s family, what happened next was shocking. Jail staff treated him with what the suit calls “indifference and contempt.” Video from a body camera shows officers joking and laughing as Smallwood vomited while tied to a restraint chair. One guard joked, “I might throw up if I see that again.”
His brother, John Smallwood, said, “They treated him worse than an animal.”
Medical Help Was Not Given
Smallwood’s condition continued to get worse. The lawsuit says he was sweating, shaking, bleeding, and completely disoriented. He was strapped to a chair in a slightly reclined position, which made it even harder for him to breathe.
When he became unresponsive, a nurse—described in the lawsuit as “entry-level” with limited authority—used smelling salts and a sternum rub to try and revive him. He briefly woke up, so she assumed he was fine and left him there alone. When she returned later, she noticed his vital signs were abnormal but still did not take further action. She left for the night.
Just 15 minutes after that, Glenn Smallwood was found dead.
Family Demands Justice
The lawsuit accuses the nurse and sheriff’s staff of failing to treat Smallwood properly and ignoring clear signs of a medical emergency. It claims that the nurse was not authorized to decide whether he needed further care and that she failed to contact a supervising doctor.
His family is now suing for wrongful death, asking for both compensatory and punitive damages. Sheriff Tom Selman, who met with the family after the incident, has declined to comment further, saying it would not be appropriate due to legal proceedings.