. If you are an attorney or party in a case not publicly available for viewing, you will have to come down to the courthouse to view the case. Instead, they were led into a meeting room and offered a box of tissues. The jail population has grown since 2000, of course, but jail deaths have grown more. 12746 Obituaries. Murder in the Fresno County jail. She closed several floors of the jail because she didnt have enough officers to watch inmates. An error has occurred. She was born on October 3, 1919, and lived 103 years . The Fresno County Jail death toll illustrates how some counties have failed to institute reforms, keep up with federal court orders to improve conditions, and prioritize inmate well-being. SHARE. It is the mission of the Fresno County Sheriff-Coroner's Office to provide excellence in public service through our uncompromising belief in dignity in . The Inmate Information web page can help with VINE registration if the offender is under the custody of the Fresno County Jail. A female California corrections officer with a "depraved mind" has been jailed for reportedly having sex with an inmate in full view of 11 other jailbirds . 836) arrests. It was just a little fight that they had gotten into and everything was fine. Yes, Brock was hospitalized, but Rankin couldnt visit him unless she first posted bail. Please visit the following page: https://covid-19-cofgisonline.hub.arcgis.com for more information. While the victim was unloading groceries, Erkins took her purse from her shopping cart, the arrest report said. At the time of Herreras death, Pacheco was in the Fresno County Jail awaiting trial on the 2015 robbery and assault case. The young woman was sentenced to seven months in county jail as well and two-year probation was handed out to her for having sex with an inmate. Two-thirds of the people kept in the jail are awaiting trial, accused but not convicted. Stay informed on the latest information and get access to important details about your community. Hes gonna die!. The prolonged homicide investigation is but one of Mims challenges in managing the chaotic Fresno jail. Appearances for Superior Court are set by the Superior Court and scheduled for the next available court date. I was nearly raped, I was physically attacked and, like all the other inmates, I was treated like an animal by sadistic guards. You cant state or imply that donations to your organization support ProPublicas work. Please register to access this content. She rushed to his hospital room to find his wrists and ankles cuffed to the bed frame, dark bruises around his throat. The legislation rerouted people convicted of nonviolent, nonsexual and nonserious crimes to serve sentences in county jails. A jury trial is scheduled for 2021. The family created pendants to hold Erkins ashes. The trail of evidence led them to a . 1265 M Street Fresno, CA 93721 United States (559) 457-2000. Asked if its the sheriffs job to prevent inmate deaths and jail violence, Doyle responded, Of course.. The release of prisoners has stabilized, but violence has increased. There Has Been an Explosion of Homicides in Californias County Jails. Herrera survived the violent chaos of the Fresno County Jail for 66 days, including living through a brawl that left another inmate unconscious. County jails also lack effective oversight, especially in monitoring the handling of difficult inmates. Jail staff began CPR, and an ambulance whisked him to a hospital five blocks away. As has . They miss their son, Amezcua said. The Board made no statements in response and asked no questions. Detention Programs and Services work collaboratively with community, other agencies, and stakeholders in pursuit of this mission. He did not look healthy at all. Lorenzo Herrera was choked to death in the Fresno County Main Jail on March 24, 2018. Any website our stories appear on must include a prominent and effective way to contact you. Unlawful Detainer cases are not available for sixty . According to deputies, the death happened late Sunday night but no other specifics on the identity or cause have been released to the public. Officers are sometimes slower to conduct rounds, to notice inmates who are gravely sick, to watch fights develop in a gang pod or to isolate psychotic inmates. Encontrar y oprima el conectar a VINE para registrar. Two died soon afterward. prcs warrant - post release community supervision violation warrant (ab109) r20900027-1. Talk to Us. For News Releases prior to 2017 contact Public Health Communication at PublicHealthMedia@fresnocountyca.gov . But Herrera, 19, said he did not expect problems with others inside the gang pod hed soon call home. Creative Commons License (CC BY-NC-ND 3.0). The Sheriff of Fresno County also has the responsibilities of being the Coroner. Several county jail systems, including Fresnos, were already under court orders for violating the constitutional rights of people in their cells. This article was produced in partnership with The Sacramento Bee, which is a member of the ProPublica Local Reporting Network. The sheriff is prohibited from having people sleep on the floor. Find and click on the link to VINE to register. Brock made it three days inside before the cellmate choked him into a coma. In an investigation published by The Reader, it was stated, No other jail in California has seen a sharper increase in inmate deaths than the Fresno County Jail., Furthermore, The Reader also found that the problem is particularly acute in places like Fresno, Kern and Merced counties, inland stretches of California, where deaths have surged disproportionately., Fresno County Sheriff Margaret Mims claimed because county jails hold many dangerous people awful events, including deaths, are almost inevitable.. Fresno County's vital records include birth, death, marriage . What Do You Know About County Jails in California? Of those, 127 died of medical causes . By Daniella Espinoza. A Fresno County Superior Court judge slashed the bail for a motorist accused of a fatal hit-and-run crash that killed 15-year-old Hoover High School student Rashad Al-Hakim Jr. on Oct. 4. Call or e-mail the Fresno County Board of Supervisors. Herrera was booked into Fresno Countys jail in January 2018 on burglary and assault charges after he and two other young men allegedly smashed into a home southeast of Fresno and then evaded law enforcement. By. Thank you for your interest in republishing this story. Captain Joe Smith spoke . Thirteen other people were beaten and hospitalized for multiple days. The Superior Court of California, County of Fresno, will serve the community and enhance public trust and confidence in the administration of . Erkins complained of a headache, then vomited and poured sweat, his bunkmate said in a phone interview. Others, the investigation shows, have viewed the changes as a burden. My son wasnt no gang member, Herrera said in an interview this year. Why has the body been taken to the Coroners Office? Many of them are nonviolent offenders, and some are probably innocent. Admission to a California state hospital often takes months, and in January 2018 the waitlist was more than 1,000 patients long. Nothing has changed in 50 years. You cant republish our material wholesale, or automatically; you need to select stories to be republished individually. The Fresno County Sheriffs Office did not announce Pachecos arrest in the jailhouse slaying, as would be typical in high-profile or unsolved homicides. Get our investigations delivered to your inbox with the Big Story newsletter. Details emerged only in a trickle of court documents and sporadic interviews. Prosecutors in Fresno County have charged a man with murdering a 19-year-old jail inmate more than a year ago, newly filed court records show, but detectives say theyre still trying to determine if there are additional suspects. Box 11867, Fresno CA 93775-1867. Michael Karibian July 14, 1947 - February 13, 2023 Fresno, California - Local photographer Mike Karibian died in Fresno on Monday, February 13, 2023 surrounded by family. We strive to serve and protect the interests of the community by determining the cause, circumstances and manner of sudden or unexplained deaths that occur within our jurisdiction. . Fresno County prosecutors charged him with felony grand theft and simple assault, and he pleaded guilty in January 2013. If the tour request is for students, the course instructor must make the request and attend the tour. 3333 E. American Ave, Suite GFresno, CA 93725Office: 559-600-3400Fax: 559-455-4605This email address is being protected from spambots. Hes never there by himself.. Investigators said that during his booking, he reported having high blood pressure but wasnt taking medication. Additionally, the bureau is committed to the inmate's character development. The problem is particularly acute in places like Fresno, Kern and Merced counties, inland stretches of California, where deaths have surged disproportionately, a data analysis by McClatchy and ProPublica found. Lawyers representing Fresno County inmates sued the sheriffs office in February 1993, alleging cruel and unusual jail conditions that violated the U.S. Constitutions Eighth Amendment. An intake photo showed Herrera holding a dry-erase board identifying himself as a Northerner from Reedley, a subsect of the Norteos street gang. After losing two appeals, he is now on his way to federal prison with a three-year sentence. Last Name (required): First Name: TIP: If you are unsure how the name is spelled, you can enter the partial spelling of the name followed by an asterisk (*), for example: smi*. booking# jid name age release_date releasetype arrestagency charges; 2311269: 7090455: xiong, fue : 23: 3/3/2023 9:46:00 am: time served: fsd area 2 : 2226447: 7082861 To see if someone is in custody, check theInmate Information Center, or you may call (559) 475-9491. Crews helping residents stranded by snow in Mariposa County, Home catches fire in snow-covered neighborhood in North Fork, New shopping center unveiled in Northeast Fresno. In a 48-hour stretch during January 2018, three men were booked into the Fresno County Jail. Three bookings within 48 hours. Browse Fresno Bee obituaries, conduct other obituary searches, offer condolences/tributes, send flowers or create an online memorial. Learn how your comment data is processed. The opposite occurred in county jails. Then came back-to-back blows for Fresno County. FRESNO, California (KWTX) - A judge this week sentenced Tina Gonzalez, 27, a former correctional officer with the Fresno County Sheriff's Office, to . As some state prisoners sentences ended in 2012, and realignment blocked new intakes, the prison population dropped by 20,000 within months. If you wanted absolutely no assaults on inmates, no assaults on staff, no murders, no suicides you would almost have to have a [guard] assigned to every single inmate or continually have eyes on those inmates.. They obviously do not care and remain completely unaccountable. FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- Authorities are investigating the death of an inmate at the Fresno County Jail. Published: Jul. Conditions in the jail are barbaric. Pleasant Valley State Prison is actively recruiting the following positions: For information on Correctional Officer careers, please contact (559) 935-4965, Monday through Friday between 7:00 am and 3:00 pm. Live Scan costs vary, so please contact the office for more details. While the public has yet to hear about the specifics of the incident, it is clear that there is growing disdain with the county in regard to inmate treatment, according to many comments on the original post, showing growing concerns over a lack of information and concerning trends. A man has been charged, but detectives say theyre still trying to determine if there are additional suspects. Herrera didnt get a trial or a plea deal. The Fresno County Sheriffs Office is responsible for the operation of three jails within the county. 2200 Fresno Street, Fresno, Calif. 93721 | Records (559) 600-8400 | Non-Emergency Dispatch Line (559) 600-3111 If there is . var prefix = 'ma' + 'il' + 'to'; We, of the Fresno County Sheriff - Coroner's office, provide excellence in public service through our uncompromising belief in dignity in death. Specter, with the Prison Law Office, said a sheriffs absence sends a clear message. It had an average daily population of 3,136 inmates in February, 11% higher than the previous February. Police said Herrera pointed a gun at an officer before surrendering. We have official accounts for ProPublica on. Officials have not identified the inmate or released a possible cause of death. Their cases kicked off a nightmarish year in a local jail where problems trace back to Californias sweeping 2011 prison downsizing and criminal justice reforms. He just hesitated, and hes like, Im sorry to inform you . Three bookings within 48 hours, three people who went into the overcrowded jail and left dead or in a coma.
Court appearances for warrants in Fresno are set by the court and take approximately two (2) court days. This may take several hours from the time the criminal offender was "released" in court. by Jason Pohl, The Sacramento Bee, and Ryan Gabrielson, ProPublica. He was comatose, but two officers stood guard to ensure he didnt escape. Thats when California officials approved realignment, sending people convicted of felonies that are nonviolent, nonsexual and nonserious to serve prison sentences in county jails rather than state prisons. The evening before Herrera entered the jail, Ernest Brock, 20, was also arrested and booked pending trial. Erkins rarely talked with Meza about his probation violation. According to the Fresno Bee, Sheriff Mims has repeatedly characterized such deaths as the unfortunate consequence of jail life and expresses no remorse whatsoever. You may also request a copy by sending your request in the mail to the: Fresno County Sheriff-Coroners Office at 3333 E. American Avenue, Ste. When Erkins was released, he tried in his own way to get his life back on track. One was beaten into a coma. And many sheriffs spend minimal amounts on jail health care and safety. The sheriffs office primarily released people charged with misdemeanors or serving sentences for low-level crimes. Inmates stayed in Fresno County 35 days, on average, in 2018. Lucas died Monday at the Special Investigations Unit. Thank you for your interest in republishing this story. While Fresno County struggled with jail crowding and staffing, the state faced increasing pressure on its three dozen prisons. We Want to Hear From You. (To inquire about syndication or licensing opportunities, contact. Paramedics tried to reopen Brocks airway and rushed him to the emergency room. When we exemplify those who represents balance, the arrest warrants for a county jail by providing us. Find an obituary, get service details, leave condolence messages or send flowers or gifts in memory of a loved one. Officers locked down the jail five minutes later. Deputies investigating death of inmate at Fresno County Jail, Long Island group helps incarcerated women return to society, Video shows deputies repeatedly tase inmate in cell before death, Inmate killed after hostage situation at OK jail, Condemned killer dies while on San Quentin's death row, Fresno County Sheriff's Office investigating death of inmate at the Fresno County Jail, Fresno County inmate who attacked correctional officer committed suicide in cell, 2 ex-deputies acquitted of manslaughter in stun gun death, 3 Santa Clara County correctional deputies charged in death, DPS: Sandra Bland arrest dash cam video not edited. The Jail is frequently a hostile, unpredictable and unpleasant environment. state prosecutions that end in convictions still wind up with little jail or prison time for the defendant. In addition, my experience in jail taught me empathy for people in jail, something that is sorely lacking in our society. Accidental 5 . He remained unconscious for two weeks, clinging to life. Herrera allegedly pointed a gun at an officer before surrendering. Though the killer was someone in custody, officials were silent about the investigation for much of the past year. The Fresno County Sheriff-Coroners Office Jail Division will provide jail tours only to persons or groups with professional or academic interests, e.g., dignitaries, law enforcement, court officials, college-level criminal justice majors or law students, etc. Fresno County Sheriff's Office, California. Staff members talk about the demands of guarding such large populations. Inmates are dying in markedly higher numbers. Were never going to be always 100% compliant, she said. Ryan Gabrielson is a reporter for ProPublica covering health care. She also said one of the most painful moments of her time in office was releasing inmates during the economic downturn. Jail staffers feel overwhelmed at times, said Lt. Russell Duran, a jail officer for 17 years. After the article appeared in the Fresno Bee, I attended a Fresno County Board of Supervisors meeting and spoke to the five little kings about conditions in the jail. Even people awaiting trial have idled in jail far longer, with the average pretrial stay doubling from 12 days in 2011 to about 24 days last year. When Brock was arrested, his family couldnt afford to post bail. For her part, Mims has established herself as a voice on national immigration policy. But a cellmate said that doesnt tell the full story of Erkins final hours. Fresno County Sheriff's Office. Within the past two months, three dozen correctional officers have retired or quit their posts. The officer put Erkins in the police car and told Meza to say goodbye. The Fresno County Sheriffs Office does not segregate people awaiting trial from convicted inmates serving a jail sentence. TULARE COUNTY, Calif. - Tulare County Sheriff's Mike Boudreaux revealed Friday evening what he says was the likely motive behind the Goshen massacre on January 16, which resulted in the death . The Coroner's Office investigates deaths falling under the guidelines of the California Government Code 27491. But on Jan. 19, the cellmate according to the Fresno County sheriffs office choked his cellmate until hed squeezed off air to Brocks brain. You cant sell our material separately or syndicate it. 36.737313,-119.790099 fresnosheriff.org Joined January 2013 Our Location: 1221 Fulton Street, 5th Floor. An officer opened the door hatch, pulled a launcher from his leg holster and instructed all inmates to stop fighting and to get down on the ground, according to incident reports. PO Box 11867, Fresno CA 93775-1867. Detectives were awaiting results from a DNA test of some evidence from the scene, according to a recent court filing. The Voice of the Progressive Movement since 1996, The degree of civilization in a society is revealed by entering its prisons.Fyodor Dostoyevsky. Susan Russo, who was convicted of arranging the 1994 murder of her husband, has died at 67. 1, 2021 at 11:52 AM PDT. How do I contact the Deputy Coroner in charge of my loved one's case? This system only shows information that can be viewed by the public. Firefighters and emergency medical technicians arrived, loaded Erkins onto a stretcher and wheeled him away. And then the next day was a whole different story.. PO Box 4715
This should make Sheriff Margaret Mims and the five members of the county Board of Supervisors cringe, but apparently they do not care. They bundled the first reforms in 2011 into Assembly Bill 109, referred to as realignment. The suspect accused of killing a police officer this week in a small Fresno County community fired the deadly shots from a "ghost gun," untraceable firearms that have . Whether Brock reported his fears about his cellmate to jail staff is unclear. All members of the group must clear the metal detector or they will not be permitted access into the facility. It is the mission of the Fresno County Sheriff-Coroner's Office to provide excellence in public service through our uncompromising belief in dignity in death. Thats when California officials approved sweeping reforms called realignment, shifting responsibility for thousands of offenders from state prisons to county jails. Booking No. I dont want to feel like youre afraid for me. The records dont detail whether Pacheco was the victims cellmate or what the motive was. Lorenzo Herrera had no previous criminal history, according to court records. 5620, Monday through Friday between 8:00 am and 4:00 . When more dangerous or mentally ill inmates strain the short-handed staff, every part of the jail deals with the consequences. Inmates have some control over day-to-day life inside the pod. Recent LODD Deaths. The Fresno County Sheriff's Office reported the person's death Sunday night. Experts say apathy among officials in many of Californias 56 counties with jails has fostered a crisis. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE. Effective Saturday, May 29, 2021, inmate visitationsat all Fresno County Jail facilities are allowed. ProPublica and The Sacramento Bee are spending the year reporting on resources, safety and crowding in California county jails. 2023. How do I reclaim the property that was taken by the Coroner's Office? In retrospect, Cate said he believes convicts sentenced to five years or more of incarceration should serve that time in prison, not the local jails. The main reason that people call 559-475-9491 is to find out if a particular person is in custody, although you can look up an inmate online by going here. A man down call was issued and the staff started CPR. Were You Affected by the Massive Wildfire in Northern New Mexico? She moved to the Sacramento metro area in 2016 to train as a sign-language interpreter, and he joined her for their daughters first birthday. According to them, he was by himself and say all signs point to suicide. We identify the deceased and notify their next-of-kin, while insuring that the deceased and their property are treated with the utmost respect and dignity. A judge on Feb. 5 ordered that he spend four weeks in jail to resolve the theft charge. But their lives were at increased risk at the troubled facility, in part, because of it. Susan Russo, convicted of arranging murder of husband, has died at 67. 15 Fallen Officers. The real estate market crash and recession dried up jail funding as tax revenues shriveled. Being a peace officer, Mims said, you know, you want to keep people locked up.. Perform a free Fresno County, CA public arrest records search, including current & recent arrests, arrest inquiries, warrants, reports, logs, and mugshots. This includes publishing or syndicating our work on platforms or apps such as Apple News, Google News, etc. Heres Why. Then, on an afternoon in March, jail officers found him dead in a cell. Hours of Operation: Monday - Friday 8:00 am - 4:00 pm. On Feb. 2, two weeks after Herrera arrived, a melee in the gang pod demanded action. Washington State Department of Corrections, WA. Brock had been assigned a frightening cellmate three days after he was arrested. He held a dry-erase board proclaiming to be a Northerner from Reedley, a subsect of the Norteos street gang. Though running a jail is complicated work, inmate deaths should not be dismissed as inevitable, said Marin County Sheriff Robert Doyle, speaking on behalf of the California State Sheriffs Association. Showing the latest 25 out of 399,518 results. var path = 'hr' + 'ef' + '='; Previously, judges could not sentence people to more than a year in county jails. His mother, Tabatha Rankin, said her son loved hiking and fishing but hadnt figured out what to do with his life. This includes publishing or syndicating our work on platforms or apps such as Apple News, Google News, etc. That extended to 21 days the following year as prison reform began. The fates of Herrera, Brock and Erkins set the stage for the deadliest year in at least two decades at the jail, a sprawling complex of jam-packed cells, filled with inmates working their way through a clogged criminal justice system. The cellmate, then 26, refused to take it. It also taught me that if you treat people like animals, they can become more antisocial and more prone to commit crimes when released. In a 48-hour stretch during January 2018, three men were booked into the Fresno County Jail. You cant use our work to populate a website designed to improve rankings on search engines or solely to gain revenue from network-based advertisements. The 48-hour period in which Herrera, Brock and Erkins entered the Fresno County Jail illustrates the failures of county jails since the 2011 realignment. The increase in violence and death in Fresno started soon after the state was ordered in 2011 by the U.S. Supreme Court to reduce its prison population. Thats more than in all the preceding year. And the jails issues continue to fester. He had dropped out of high school and spent his days riding dirt bikes, playing video games and helping his father work at a radiator repair shop. Tony Botti, a department spokesman, on Tuesday said doing so could jeopardize other leads we are looking into.. The purpose of the newspaper is to help build a progressive movement for social and economic justice. End of Watch Tuesday, October 12, 2021 . The Fresno County Jail death toll illustrates how some counties have failed to institute reforms, keep up with federal court orders to improve conditions, and prioritize inmate well-being. Theyre not supposed to enter another persons cell, but officers do not keep tabs on whos coming and going. (For example, yesterday can be changed to last week, and Portland, Ore. to Portland or here.), You cannot republish our photographs or illustrations without specific permission.