HARRIS COUNTY, TX – The family of Alexis Jovany Cardenas is seeking answers following his death while in custody at the Harris County Jail.
According to relatives, Cardenas, a father of four, was experiencing a mental health crisis at the time of his detention. They have expressed concerns about how the situation was handled and how it has been portrayed in media coverage, stating that Cardenas was not aggressive and had thrown his hands up.
We encourage you to watch the complete 17-minute video to see the full sequence of events rather than only the short portions typically shown in media coverage, likely due to time constraints and the graphic nature of the footage. The full video can be viewed below, but viewers should be warned it is disturbing.
Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez addressed the case last week, offering condolences to the family and outlining the ongoing investigations. Sheriff Gonzalez said multiple agencies are involved, including the Texas Rangers, the Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences, the Harris County District Attorney’s Office, and the Sheriff’s Office Internal Affairs Division.
Sheriff Gonzalez stated that Cardenas was booked into the jail on July 6, 2025, at 6:26 p.m., after being arrested by Houston police on multiple outstanding misdemeanor warrants. He underwent a standard medical screening, which reportedly showed no major physical or mental health concerns.
Cardenas spent about 30 hours in custody before his scheduled release just after midnight on July 8. Sheriff Gonzalez said that during his time in custody, Cardenas appeared agitated and disruptive. As detention officers escorted him toward the exit, Cardenas allegedly turned back and forced his way into the jail’s release vestibule. A struggle followed, during which a detention officer deployed a Taser, reportedly with no effect. Cardenas moved further inside the secure area, where multiple officers attempted to restrain him.
After being restrained, Cardenas became unresponsive. CPR was administered, and medical staff responded before he was transported to St. Joseph’s Hospital, where he was pronounced deceased at 1:57 a.m.
The full press briefing can also be watched below:
If you have any information, you are urged to contact the Harris County Sheriff’s Office or Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS.
