Dallas releases video after man dies in custody; autopsy pending

On April 29, 2025, Horace Groves III, 55, died while in custody at the Dallas Police Southeast Patrol Station after officers stopped his vehicle late that night, Lieutenant Bobby Everson of the Dallas Police Special Investigations Unit said at a department briefing.

Everson said a Fox safety camera alerted officers at approximately 12:27 a.m. to a vehicle linked to outstanding warrants. Officer Christian Howard and other officers conducted multiple stop attempts, and a felony stop was completed at the intersection of Jim Miller Road and the C.F. Hahn Freeway, where Groves was detained and handcuffed. "This is the first death in custody involving a Dallas Police Officer this year," Everson said.

Why it matters: deaths in police custody trigger separate reviews by prosecutors, oversight bodies and medical examiners. The Dallas Police Department said it is releasing body‑worn camera, dash and interview‑room footage to be transparent; the Dallas County District Attorney is conducting an independent review and the Office of Community Police Oversight was notified. The Dallas Medical Examiner performed an autopsy on April 30; the cause and manner of death were pending at the time of the briefing.

According to the department timeline provided in the briefing, officers found two handguns reported stolen from the Corinth Police Department, a drug pipe and five baggies of cocaine during an inventory of the vehicle. Groves was placed in a squad car at about 1:28 a.m.; Dallas Fire Rescue was requested at about 1:38 a.m. and arrived at the stop at about 1:53 a.m. After DFR evaluated him at the scene, officers Gregory Fason and Rebecca Harwell drove Groves to the Southeast Patrol Station for an interview with a gun detective identified in the briefing as Detective Ryan Diem.

Everson said Groves was placed in an interview room at about 2:16 a.m., given water and escorted to use the restroom at 2:25 a.m. and again at 2:36 a.m. Detective Diem entered the interview room to begin an interview shortly before 3:00 a.m.; Everson’s timeline reports that at about 3:02 a.m. Groves collapsed. "Detective DM began CPR" at about 3:05 a.m., officers retrieved a defibrillator at 3:09 a.m., chest compressions were continued by officers Gregory Fason and Edgar Ortiz, Dallas Fire Rescue arrived at the station at about 3:13 a.m., and DFR declared Groves deceased at 3:39 a.m., the department said.

Video released by the department captures parts of the encounter before the station interview. In that footage, the detainee — identified by the department as Horace Groves III — repeatedly told officers, "I just need some water," and answered officers' questions about breathing and recent intake. The detainee also told officers he had asthma and said he felt dehydrated and high. Paramedics at the scene medically cleared him for transport, according to the briefing.

The Dallas Police Special Investigations Unit is investigating the incident. The department noted that the two recovered handguns were later determined to have been stolen during the burglary and aggravated assault referenced in the Corinth case linked to the arrest warrants. The Dallas County District Attorney's independent review and the medical examiner's autopsy are the next steps; the department said it would release related footage to support transparency.

The Police Department did not announce any discipline, administrative findings or criminal charges at the briefing. The Dallas County District Attorney and the medical examiner's offices will release findings if and when they complete their reviews.