HUMBLE, Texas - The Texas Department of Public Safety's woes continue after a malfunctioning door lock trapped two men inside a bathroom at the Humble DPS for nearly an hour.

The incident happened a day after the head of Texas' troubled top law enforcement agency pledged Tuesday to make significant reforms after coming under fire from critical lawmakers.

On Wednesday, 41-year-old Christin Perry needed a quick restroom break while renewing his license at the Humble DPS. That break turned into a lengthy ordeal when Perry tried to leave, the Houston Chronicle reported in its online editions on Thursday.

"What I think is, the lock mechanism broke, because the handle just goes up and down and it doesn't move," he said from his cell phone in the restroom Wednesday afternoon. DPS workers tried to jiggle the door open, but couldn't. They eventually summoned a locksmith, who freed Perry and another man after about an hour.

"It was just a malfunction," Sgt. Delvin Davis said. "It could happen to anyone. They're fine."

On Tuesday, Allan Polunsky, chairman of the Public Safety Commission that oversees DPS, appeared before the Sunset Advisory Commission, which reviews state agency performance.

He said he would take responsibility for improving handling of driver license and vehicle inspections, inadequate technology and communications in the event of a possible terror attack and other problems outlined by a legislative report. That report came before the latest bad news for the agency: the arson fire that nearly destroyed the Governor's Mansion and the revelation of too few guards and malfunctioning security equipment at the site, coupled with two people trapped by a broken bathroom door lock.