HOUSTON — The family of Saul Vargas filed a federal lawsuit against Galveston County, the Galveston County Jail, and several individuals over his 2024 death in custody at the Galveston County Sheriff's Office jail. The lawsuit alleges that jail staff failed to provide medical care to Vargas after a detention officer allegedly used excessive force against him.

Civil rights attorney Randall Callinen filed the lawsuit on behalf of the family. "We are suing all of the individuals who are responsible for the suffering and death of Saul Vargas," Callinen said.

According to the Galveston County Sheriff's Office, Vargas had been in jail for about a week awaiting a court appearance on a charge of fraudulent use of a credit card. Authorities said Vargas was tased during a struggle while being moved to an isolation cell and was later found unresponsive.

The medical examiner ruled that Vargas died from asphyxia caused by neck compression. Prosecutors allege that 27-year-old Skylar Chapman caused Vargas's death by placing his knee or leg on Vargas's neck. Chapman was charged with criminally negligent homicide following an investigation by the Texas Rangers.

The lawsuit alleges that surveillance video from inside the jail shows multiple people observing Vargas while he remained in distress without receiving medical attention after the altercation. "If they would've just intervened sooner, he would have likely survived," Callinen said.

Vargas's wife, Candalaria Palacios, spoke about the family's motivation for pursuing the case. "We just want justice, and we want it to stop," she said.

The federal lawsuit was filed on behalf of Vargas's family, who are seeking accountability from the county and the individuals named as defendants. The Galveston County Sheriff's Office has not publicly commented on the lawsuit. Chapman's criminal case remains separate from the civil proceedings brought by the family.