Houston Man Arrested After Having ‘Mental Episode’ Dies While In Custody; Authorities Says He ‘Tripped’

In the wee hours of Sunday morning, Houston officers responded to a call involving a Hispanic man in his 50s having a “mental episode.” The victim was taken into custody, where he died; authorities claim he tripped.

Officers from the Houston Police Department reported that the man did not comply with their orders when they responded to the northwest side of the city.

“He actually tripped and fell into a drainage by himself,” Lt. Pavel of the Houston Police Department said during a two-minute press conference. “He got up from the drainage. Officers were able to take him into custody then.”

EMS was called to the scene to treat the victim’s “cuts and bruises” he suffered from the fall, but when he was sat on the sidewalk to wait for medical attention, he became “limp,” authorities stated.

When the first responders arrived, they performed CPR and transported him to the hospital where he was pronounced dead, the Daily News reported.

Sgt. Pavel would not specify if the unidentified victim sustained other injuries but told reporters that his injuries were “possibly from the drainage when he fell down or from earlier in the day.” He added that drugs and alcohol could have also been a contributing factor.

Internal affairs will launch an investigation as well as the homicide unit. The medical examiner’s office will also conduct an autopsy to determine the cause of death.