Home  »  Archives

Articles Tagged With ‘Santa Barbara County Jail’




Grand Jury finds conflicts of interest in investigation of jail deaths

Written on 16 Apr, 2024 in Featured, Uncovered SLO | 4 comments

By KAREN VELIE The Santa Barbara Grand Jury found a perceived conflict of interest in the sheriff department’s investigations of mounting deaths at county jails and is recommending multiple changes. In an attempt to look into allegations of conflicts of... (Continue reading)

Deputies thwart fentanyl smuggling attempt at Santa Barbara County Jail

Written on 7 Sep, 2023 in Daily Briefs, Featured | One comment

  By JOSH FRIEDMAN Custody deputies thwarted a fentanyl smuggling attempt this week at Santa Barbara County’s Northern Branch Jail in Santa Maria. On Tuesday, deputies initiated an investigation into suspected contraband in an intake cell at the jail. During... (Continue reading)

Deputies stop Santa Barbara jail escape attempt

Written on 1 Aug, 2023 in Daily Briefs, Featured | No comments

By JOSH FRIEDMAN Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s custody deputies thwarted an escape attempt at the county’s Main Jail on Monday night. Shortly before 9 p.m., deputies observed five unescorted inmates in an unauthorized area of the jail. The custody deputies... (Continue reading)

Inmate dies in cell at Santa Barbara County jail, second in five days

Written on 30 May, 2023 in Daily Briefs, Featured | No comments

By KAREN VELIE An inmate died in a cell at a Santa Barbara County jail on Monday afternoon, the second inmate who has died in the past five days. Shortly after 2 p.m., a custody deputy and a WellPath medical... (Continue reading)

Feds indict Central Coast men for selling fentanyl that caused jailhouse death

Written on 10 May, 2023 in Daily Briefs, Featured | One comment

By JOSH FRIEDMAN Federal officials on Tuesday announced the indictments of two inmates at the Santa Barbara County Northern Branch Jail for allegedly causing the death of one inmate and serious injury to another through fentanyl. In the span of... (Continue reading)

Woman gets year in jail for accessory to murder, faces deportation

Written on 4 Aug, 2017 in Daily Briefs, Featured | 8 comments

The wife of the man accused of killing a 43-year-old Santa Maria resident outside a bar in Orcutt received a one-year jail sentence for accessory to murder. Mayra Perez, 29, pleaded no contest in June to being an accessory to... (Continue reading)

Santa Maria jail to close due to budget cuts

Written on 21 Jun, 2017 in Daily Briefs, Featured | 12 comments

As part of major budget cuts, Santa Barbara County is closing the Santa Maria jail.  [KCOY] The move will force law enforcement officers in Northern Santa Barbara County to transport suspects down to Santa Barbara every time they make an... (Continue reading)

Santa Maria man kills himself in jail

Written on 17 Oct, 2016 in Daily Briefs, Featured | No comments

A 38-year-old Santa Maria man allegedly killed himself Sunday, just 53 days before he was slated to be released from the Santa Barbara County Jail, according to county officials. Shortly after 4:30 p.m., correctional deputies found Hector Higareda unresponsive inside his... (Continue reading)

Man dies minutes after being booked in Santa Barbara County Jail

Written on 5 Aug, 2016 in Daily Briefs, Featured | 3 comments

A 56-year-old Santa Barbara man died about 40 minutes after arriving at the county jail. Police had just arrested the man for being under the influence of drugs. At approximately 12:30 a.m., Santa Barbara police officers responding to a domestic... (Continue reading)

Suicidal inmate sends three deputies to the hospital

Written on 26 Jul, 2016 in Daily Briefs, Featured | 9 comments

An inmate at the Santa Barbara County Jail injured three deputies Sunday evening who were attempting to keep the prisoner from committing suicide, according to a sheriff’s department press release. At approximately 10:30 p.m., two deputies responded to the inmate... (Continue reading)