The Harris County Sheriff’s Office is probing a jail altercation implicating an inmate and several guards, deeming it an instance of “excessive force.”

An internal affairs inquiry is underway concerning a skirmish at the Harris County jail captured on video, involving an inmate and detention officers.

The footage, released on Sunday, depicts a verbal altercation between a detention officer and inmate D’Alessandro Chavez-Sandoval, escalating rapidly into physical confrontation with multiple punches exchanged.

Another video obtained by shows Chavez-Sandoval being escorted away with visible facial injuries.

Randall Kallinen, Chavez-Sandoval’s attorney, described the incident as “excessive force,” emphasizing the clarity of the video evidence.

The altercation occurred on Jan. 19, 2024, on the second floor of the Joint Processing Center in downtown Houston. Chavez-Sandoval, 21, was arrested for a parole violation related to a juvenile robbery conviction.

According to Kallinen, Chavez-Sandoval allegedly drew the guard’s attention by laughing and conversing, leading to the altercation in less than 10 seconds.

Following the altercation, Chavez-Sandoval faced charges of assaulting a public servant, which were later dismissed due to insufficient evidence.

Kallinen has requested the Harris County District Attorney’s Office Civil Rights Division to investigate the matter.

Chavez-Sandoval remains incarcerated for the parole violation, while the Harris County Sheriff’s Office noted that internal affairs are investigating the incident. Medical attention was provided to Chavez-Sandoval, who was subsequently placed in a holding cell. The detention officer involved sustained injuries but did not require hospitalization and remains employed by HCSO, whose identity has not been disclosed.