Introduction to the Incident
More than a month after a Houston man died during an altercation with detention officers inside the Harris County Jail, questions about his initial arrest and the struggle that preceded his death continue to linger. Alexis Cardenas, 32, died after he was restrained by several detention officers when he allegedly refused to exit the jail in the early morning hours of July 8.
The Arrest and Death of Alexis Cardenas
Video footage released by the Harris County Sheriff’s Office shows officers pinning Cardenas to the ground after he backed away from the exit door and walked toward a secure area of the jail. Officers noticed Cardenas had become unresponsive 5 minutes after officers gained control over him, according to text added to the video released by the sheriff’s office. He was pronounced dead after being transported to a nearby hospital.
Investigation and Family Response
A Texas Rangers investigation into the circumstances surrounding Cardenas’ death is underway. And while county medical examiners still have not determined his cause of death, family members said they’ve struggled to receive information that could indicate why he was first arrested over a decade-old traffic citation, or why he refused to leave the jail upon his release. “I feel like now they are just holding onto things as long as they possibly can,” said Melissa Cardenas, the man’s cousin.
Challenges in Getting Information
She said she’s struggled to get in contact with the Texas Rangers for an update on their investigation into Cardenas’ death. The Texas Department of Public Safety, which oversees the Rangers, said in a statement that local law enforcement agencies like the sheriff’s office usually handle notifying and providing information to the families of those who die in jail. The department added that the Texas Rangers communicate regularly with the involved agency and, at times, directly with the decedent’s family to keep all interested parties updated throughout the investigative process.
Mental Health Crisis
Last month, Cardenas’ family said he was suffering from a mental health crisis when he was first arrested by Houston Police Department officers on municipal charges. They said he had originally approached a police officer that day in fear for his life. According to an arrest document, Cardenas claimed he was in good health at the time of the arrest. A similar incident happened in April when Cardenas was instead taken to a mental health facility in Richmond by an officer, his cousin said.
Request for Body Camera Footage
Houston Public Media submitted an open records request for the body camera video and footage of Cardenas’ July 6 arrest and transportation to the Harris County Jail. The Houston Police Department said it would take “up to” 220 business days and more than $215 in fees to produce the footage. The current ETA for the video’s release is July 9, 2026. This response raised questions for Lee Thweatt, a Houston-area attorney who represents Cardenas’ family.
Delay in Releasing Information
Taking almost a year to produce body camera footage without appealing the request to the Texas attorney general’s office is a tactic Thweatt said he has yet to encounter. Texas law states governmental bodies must, within 10 days, release information, provide a written notice of the date and time the information will be released, or seek to withhold information through an appeal to the attorney general’s office. The police department, however, cited a backlog of public information requests as the cause for the delay.
Mental Health Services
It remains unclear why Cardenas was not diverted for mental health services at the time he was brought into the Harris County Jail if he was suffering from a mental health crisis at the time. During the booking process in the Harris County Jail, a medical screening form is filled out to determine if a person is suffering from mental or physical ailments before they are booked. The screening form, which covers 38 questions, asks if a person is hearing noises that other people don’t seem to hear, or if they are worried that someone might hurt or kill them.
Conclusion
The death of Alexis Cardenas has raised many questions about the handling of mental health crises in the justice system. The family’s struggle to get information and the delay in releasing body camera footage have added to the uncertainty surrounding the incident. As the investigation continues, it is essential to address the issues of mental health services and transparency in the justice system to prevent similar incidents in the future. The family and the community deserve answers, and it is crucial to ensure that those in need of mental health services receive the help they require.
