Case:                       24-1691037 

Date:                       Monday, June 17, 2024 

Time:                       4:06 p.m.  

Location:                 8801 S IH-35 Frontage Road – Circle K Convenience Store 

Deceased:               Jermaine Joseph Sims, Black male, D.O.B. 8/31/1988

The Austin Police Department (APD) is investigating the in-custody death that occurred on Monday, June 17, 2024. 

At approximately 4:02 p.m., Austin 9-1-1 received multiple calls reporting an urgent disturbance at the Circle K Convenience Store located at 8801 S IH-35 Frontage Road. The 9-1-1 callers reported that a man, later identified as Jermaine Joseph Sims, wearing gray shorts and a white tank top, was “acting erratic” and “throwing things” inside the business.  

At approximately 4:05 p.m., Mr. Sims stole a pick-up truck from one of the convenience store gas pumps, turned onto the southbound frontage road of IH 35 at Slaughter Ln., in the wrong direction, and crashed into multiple vehicles.    

At approximately 4:09 p.m., officers arrived on scene and at approximately 4:10 p.m., officers took Mr. Sims into custody. Austin-Travis County EMS (A/TCEMS) arrived on scene and transported Mr. Sims to a local hospital where he was pronounced deceased at 6:04 p.m. 

Because Mr. Sims died after being detained by APD officers, this incident is being investigated as an in-custody death. The cause of death will be determined by the medical examiner.  

This incident was captured on body-worn camera and a private community member’s dash camera. Per APD policy, the videos will be released within ten business days.  

APD will conduct two concurrent investigations into this incident: a criminal investigation conducted by the APD Special Investigations Unit in conjunction with the Travis County District Attorney's Office and an administrative investigation conducted by the APD Internal Affairs Unit, with oversight from the Office of Police Oversight. 

Anyone with information is encouraged to call APD's Special Investigation Unit at (512) 974-6840 or Capitol Area Crime Stoppers at 512-472-8477. For the Capitol Area Crime Stoppers submission, you may submit a tip online at austincrimestoppers.org. You may remain anonymous.