Anthony Lee Villarreal was booked into Hidalgo County Jail in Edinburg, Texas, on October 6th, 2020. He had a seizure on October 10th, 2020, and was moved to the medical infirmary and then was placed into a restraint chair to prevent self-harm. Mr. Villarreal had another seizure while in the restraint chair and was removed and transported to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead that same day.

Restraint chairs are devices approved by the Texas Commission on Jail Standards (TCJS) for use in county jails in Texas. Various watch groups across the country have conducted investigations related to the alleged abuse of restraint chairs in jails. The following is one story from outside of Texas.

A Man Dies Strapped into a Restraint Chair

A 33-year-old inmate at a county jail died alone and strapped into a restraint chair, and his family brought his story to light. A news story revealed some details about the inmate and his tragic death. Two days prior to his death, the inmate visited medical staff at the jail and said he had sickle cell disease and was experiencing pain. A security camera captured officers walking with the inmate, who collapses onto the floor. He was dragged to an elevator by an officer. The inmate collapsed again.

A wheelchair was brought to them, and a video shows that he was thrown into the chair and then pulled onto the elevator with his feet dragging on the floor. Next, according to the report, the inmate entered the medical unit groaning in pain, yelling, and moaning. Once he is wheeled inside the medical area, the inmate arched his back and slid to the floor. Officers attempted to place him back on the seat but he would slump and fall each time and then lie on the floor.

 A nurse in charge of the medical unit indicated that the inmate had sickle cell disease and was also experiencing a mental health crisis and exhibiting non-compliance with regard to receiving medical care. The inmate was ordered to be strapped into a restraint chair, though his respiratory rate was abnormal at 22.

Learn more in this ongoing series.

There is never an intention on this website to make an inference that any person or entity has engaged in acts of wrongdoing. The purpose of the posts on this site is to supply helpful resources to current and previous prisoners detained in Texas county jails.

–Guest Contributor