According to the sheriff’s office, one of the officers used their Taser on the man, but it was not effective.
HARRIS COUNTY, Texas — An investigation is underway after an inmate died as he was being released from the Harris County Jail, according to the Harris County Sheriff’s Office.
HCSO said Alexis Jovany Cardenas, 32, was released from the jail’s custody at 12:50 a.m. on July 8. As detention officers were escorting him out of the jail, the sheriff’s office said he got into a fight with them.
According to the sheriff’s office, one of the officers used their Taser on Cardenas, but it was not effective.
“At one point, Cardenas briefly forced his way back into the secure area of the jail where inmates were being processed for release,” HCSO said in a news release.
The sheriff’s office said it took multiple officers to gain control of Cardenas.
“Once control was established, they noticed Cardenas was unresponsive,” HCSO said. “A detention officer then administered CPR while jail medical staff responded to the area to administer aid.”
Cardenas was brought to a hospital where he was pronounced dead.
The incident is under investigation by the Texas Rangers. HCSO said the Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences will conduct an autopsy to determine Cardenas’ cause of death.
The sheriff’s office will conduct an administrative investigation to determine whether policies were properly followed.
“Video footage will be publicly released within no more than 45 days in accordance with Sheriff’s Office policy,” HCSO said.
The sheriff’s office said Cardenas had been in the jail since July 6 after he was arrested by the Houston Police Department on municipal charges. HCSO did not clarify what exact charges Cardenas faced.