Houston, January 23, 2026
The family of Erik Carlson, a 29-year-old from Houston, has filed a federal lawsuit against Harris County and Sheriff Ed Gonzalez following his death in a Louisiana jail. The lawsuit alleges negligence, claiming delayed medical care led to Carlson’s death after he was denied treatment for a strep throat infection and breathing difficulties. This lawsuit highlights ongoing concerns over inmate treatment and deaths in both Harris County and outsourced facilities like the LaSalle Correctional Center.
Houston
Family Sues Harris County, Sheriff Over Man’s Death in Louisiana Jail
The family of Erik Carlson, a 29-year-old Houston man, has recently filed a federal lawsuit against Harris County and Sheriff Ed Gonzalez following Carlson’s death in a Louisiana jail. The lawsuit, filed on April 3, 2025, alleges that Carlson died on January 25, 2025, due to delayed medical care after jail staff reportedly ignored his repeated pleas for treatment, including for a strep throat infection and trouble breathing. Carlson was told he would have to purchase over-the-counter medication from the commissary.
Allegations of Negligence and Outsourcing Concerns
Carlson was being held at a correctional facility in LaSalle Parish, central Louisiana, having been outsourced there from Harris County while awaiting trial for a felony charge of illegally possessing a gun. The lawsuit claims that the alleged negligence and failure to provide timely medical attention directly led to his passing. LaSalle Corrections, the private company operating the facility, along with its owners and other jail staff, are also named as defendants in the legal action. Harris County reportedly pays millions to outsource housing for hundreds of its inmates to such facilities.
Broader Concerns Over Inmate Deaths and Outsourced Care
This federal lawsuit is the third brought against Harris County in recent years over inmate deaths at the LaSalle Correctional Center in central Louisiana. Other instances include the family of Jaleen Anderson, 29, who filed a similar lawsuit in April 2025 after he died at the facility following a seizure, and the family of Billie Davis, 35, who also sued Harris County and LaSalle Corrections after his death was ruled a homicide. The filings also highlight a history of wrongful death lawsuits against LaSalle for alleged “unconstitutional conditions, policies, and practices at their jails.”
Within Harris County itself, the jail system has faced ongoing struggles with overcrowding and staffing issues, leading to numerous inmate deaths. In 2025, there have been a number of inmate deaths in Harris County Jail custody, with 20 reported by the end of December. The sheriff’s office reported 10 inmate deaths in 2024, down from 19 in 2023 and 27 in 2022. Concerns regarding inmate monitoring and delayed medical care within the Harris County Jail have also led to past lawsuits, such as one filed in May 2023 by the parents of Rory Ward, who died in the jail in 2021. The FBI also announced civil rights investigations into the deaths of two men in Harris County Jail in February 2023.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the main subject of the recently filed federal lawsuit?
- The federal lawsuit concerns the death of Houston man Erik Carlson, 29, in a Louisiana jail, alleging delayed medical care by Harris County, Sheriff Ed Gonzalez, and LaSalle Corrections.
- When did Erik Carlson die?
- Erik Carlson died on January 25, 2025.
- When was the lawsuit filed?
- The lawsuit was filed on April 3, 2025.
- Who are the defendants in the federal lawsuit?
- The defendants in the federal lawsuit are Harris County, Sheriff Ed Gonzalez, and LaSalle Corrections, along with its owners and other jail staff.
- What are the specific allegations in the lawsuit regarding Erik Carlson’s death?
- The lawsuit alleges that jail staff repeatedly ignored Erik Carlson’s pleas for medical treatment, including for a strep throat infection and trouble breathing, telling him he would have to purchase over-the-counter medication from the commissary, leading to his death due to delayed care.
- Where was Erik Carlson being held when he died?
- Erik Carlson died in a correctional facility in LaSalle Parish in central Louisiana, after being outsourced from Harris County.
- Have there been similar incidents involving outsourced Harris County inmates?
- Yes, this is the third federal lawsuit against Harris County in recent years over inmate deaths at the LaSalle Correctional Center in central Louisiana, with other cases involving Jaleen Anderson and Billie Davis.
Key Details of the Lawsuit
| Aspect | Detail |
|---|---|
| Deceased | Erik Carlson, 29 years old |
| Date of Death | January 25, 2025 |
| Location of Death | Correctional facility in LaSalle Parish, central Louisiana (after being outsourced from Harris County) |
| Plaintiffs | Erik Carlson’s family |
| Defendants | Harris County, Sheriff Ed Gonzalez, LaSalle Corrections, its owners, and other jail staff |
| Lawsuit Filing Date | April 3, 2025 |
| Primary Allegation | Delayed medical care, with jail staff allegedly ignoring pleas for treatment, including for a strep throat infection and trouble breathing |
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