At 5:20 PM on June 9, 2021, deputies with the Travis County Sheriff’s Department in Austin, Texas, approached Eddie Christian Vargas, a possible suspect in a crime, who was striking his forehead against roadway pavement. Deputies were attempting to restrain Mr. Vargas to prevent self-harm, but he actively resisted being detained. While being handcuffed, he became unresponsive and was pronounced dead at 6:35 PM.

The Texas Commission on Jail Standards (TCJS) has the responsibility of establishing operational guidelines for county jails. Various restraint systems have been approved by TCJS for the purpose of preventing inmates from hurting themselves or others. Handcuffs, leg irons, and restraint chairs are among the approved devices.  

Dangers of Restraint Chairs

Restraint chairs have been forbidden in numerous jurisdictions throughout the United States.  They are the most restrictive of the devices used on inmates in Texas county jails.  Many deaths have been associated with restraint chairs.  Even the manufacturers’ instructions for the chairs provide a strong indication of dangers associated with the restraint device.

Studies on restraint chairs show that there are specific health threats associated with them.  Inmates in restraint chairs are at risk of suffering from pulmonary embolisms or possibly fatal blood clots, especially if they are exposed to physical trauma just prior to being strapped in and immobilized. Unfortunately, most inmates experience physical trauma as they resist being detained in the chair. 

Learn more in Part 1 and Part 2 of this three-part series.

This website never intends to suggest that a person or entity has been engaged in improprieties. The goal in adding posts to this site is to help inmates in county jails in Texas.

–Guest Contributor