A Harris County medical examiner has determined that the death of 32-year-old Alexis Jovany Cardenas, who died on July 8, 2023, while being escorted out of the Harris County Jail, is a homicide. Cardenas was involved in an altercation with detention officers during his release from custody.
Cardenas had been in jail since July 6, following his arrest by the Houston Police Department on multiple outstanding municipal misdemeanor warrants. Surveillance footage from the jail shows a detention officer opening the door for Cardenas around 12:50 a.m. on July 8. Cardenas pointed at his phone, leading to a struggle involving several detention officers.
During the altercation, Cardenas was dragged, and his pants were removed. One detention officer was pulled to the ground, and another deployed a Taser. Cardenas then fought his way into a secure area where other inmates awaited release. There, multiple officers pinned him down for about eight minutes, after which they realized he was unresponsive.
Emergency services transported Cardenas to St. Joseph Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 1:57 a.m. The medical examiner’s report identified cardiac dysrhythmia as the primary cause of death. The report also noted the presence of several drugs in Cardenas’ system and cited physical and electrical restraint as contributing factors.
In response to the incident, Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez held a press conference in August. He announced that one sergeant and six detention officers had been reassigned to duties that do not involve direct inmate contact. The reassignment is part of the ongoing investigation into Cardenas’ death.
The Texas Rangers are currently conducting an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident. In addition, the Harris County Sheriff’s Office is carrying out an administrative investigation to determine whether all relevant policies and procedures were followed during the incident.
The case has attracted attention due to its nature and the implications for the involved law enforcement officers. Cardenas’ family has expressed their desire for the detention officers to be charged in relation to his death. The Sheriff’s Office has not released details regarding the potential charges or the timeline for any forthcoming decisions.
The investigation remains active, and authorities have not yet disclosed any findings that could lead to charges against the involved officers. The situation has raised questions about the procedures and protocols in place at the Harris County Jail regarding the handling of individuals being released from custody.
