Jailers' body cameras were off during 2024 use-of-force on inmate, according to records

HARRIS COUNTY, Texas (KTRK) -- 13 Investigates reviewed disciplinary records for three Harris County detention officers who were charged in February with assaulting an inmate inside the jail and found none of those officers had their body-worn cameras turned on during the incident.

Isaac Hernandez, Isaac Serrato, and Kevin Parker Jr. were all charged with misdemeanor assault and relieved of duty.

FIRST REPORT: 3 detention officers relieved of duty after investigation found they assaulted an inmate, HCSO says

Hernandez and Serrato's cases are still pending. Court records show Parker took a course and had his charge dismissed.

The Harris County Sheriff's Office announced it was rolling out body cameras to all of its detention officers as a way to "increase transparency" in January 2024.

But two months after the announcement, there was an incident between those three detention officers and an inmate, with records showing none of their body-worn cameras were turned on.

Details about the March 2024 incident inside the Harris County jail are sparse. Court documents said officers struck the inmate with their hands, and one used his leg. The victim in this case is listed as being homeless, and we don't know the extent of his injuries.

Hernandez, Serrato, and Parker were charged with misdemeanor assault nearly two years after the incident.

13 Investigates sent an open records request for any video of the incident, and we were told there wasn't any.

We also asked for the officers' disciplinary files, which is how we learned none of their body-worn cameras were on at the time of the incident.

The sheriff's office said Serrato responded to an in-progress use-of-force call at the jail, according to his disciplinary file.

In a subsequent report, a letter of reprimand for Serrato shows he wrote that his body-worn camera wasn't charged so it couldn't document the incident. But, the letter said the sheriff's office later learned that wasn't true, and the body camera was charged but just wasn't turned on.

Hernandez's internal disciplinary file shows he wrote in his follow-up report for the 2024 incident that his body-worn camera didn't record because it was not charged. The sheriff's office confirmed what Hernandez told them was true.

Parker told HSCO that his camera wasn't on because the automatic sensor didn't activate, according to internal records. He was told to "manually activate his (body-worn camera) to ensure proper recording."

Both Parker and Hernandez received counseling that recommended they review HCSO policies, according to their disciplinary files. Serrato was given a letter of reprimand, but was not disciplined.

One month after the write-up, HCSO internal records show Serrato was involved in another use-of-force incident.

Following that incident, Serrato received another letter of reprimand after he wrote in a report that his body-worn camera was on, but it was later determined that it wasn't. Records show Serrato was not disciplined in that case either.

Parker was also involved in a separate use-of-force incident in 2024, according to his records. A disciplinary letter in Parker's file said he was captured on video with another detention officer "ramming" a handcuffed inmate's head into an elevator wall and that he didn't take the inmate to the clinic after.

The letter also said Parker didn't report the use of force. The case was sent to the Harris County District Attorney's Office. Court records show a grand jury returned a no-bill in that case, meaning charges weren't filed.

The misdemeanor assault charge that was filed against Parker this year was dismissed after he took a course, according to court documents.

13 Investigates asked the Harris County District Attorney's Office if the same plea agreement was presented to the other two officers in the 2024 incident.

The DA's Office told us, per their policy, they don't discuss potential plea offers before an outcome is reached.

The sheriff's office told us both Serrato and Hernandez have been relieved of duty.

Serrato was recommended for termination, but that's pending a hearing. Hernandez's case is pending as well.

Parker, the officer whose case was dismissed, received no disciplinary action related to this incident, per the sheriff's office.

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