When Brock, Herrera and Erkins entered the jail, the sheriffs office was hemorrhaging correctional officers. Herrera survived the violent chaos of the Fresno County Jail for 66 days, including living through a brawl that left another inmate unconscious. Erkins knew he was in trouble, but his relationship with longtime friend Natalie Meza was going well. n Then, on an afternoon in March, jail officers found him dead in a cell. P.O. Protest in front of the jail.. The South Annex Jail built in 1947, the Main Jail built in 1989 and the North Annex Jail built in 1993. The Sheriff's Office patrols more than 6,000 square miles of Central California with a diversity of terrain that varies from open farmlands to metropolitan areas to the rugged mountain peaks of over 11,000 feet. Lorenzo was dead. This article was produced in partnership with The Sacramento Bee, which is a member of the ProPublica Local Reporting Network. Unlawful Detainer cases are not available for sixty . But on Jan. 19, the cellmate according to the Fresno County sheriffs office choked his cellmate until hed squeezed off air to Brocks brain. If you share republished stories on social media, wed appreciate being tagged in your posts. Since the 2015 consent decree, lawyers and prison-reform experts have called for more jail staffing. MEDIA CONTACT:: Dan Stormer, Esq. Lorenzo Herrera had no previous criminal history, according to court records. The officer fired six pepper-ball rounds toward the inmates, forcing them to drop to the floor. The Fresno County Sheriff's Office maintains a NO HOSTAGE facility and will not consider bargaining with hostage takers for ANY reason. ProPublica and The Sacramento Bee are spending the year reporting on resources, safety and crowding in California county jails. At booking, Herrera was assigned a cell in a Norteos gang pod. You cant sell our material separately or syndicate it. There Has Been an Explosion of Homicides in Californias County Jails. FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- Authorities are investigating the death of an inmate at the Fresno County Jail. It might as well be now than later so I can get it done with.. addyc322882bb3c122834ca34f39ed082c03 = addyc322882bb3c122834ca34f39ed082c03 + 'fresnosheriff' + '.' + 'org'; Reports have a $84.55 fee, payable in advance by cashiers check or money order. Bob McCloskey is a retired union organizer and human rights activist. 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. Thats when California officials approved sweeping reforms called realignment, shifting responsibility for thousands of offenders from state prisons to county jails. 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. For more information about canonical metadata, You cant edit our material, except to reflect relative changes in time, location and editorial style. prcs warrant - post release community supervision violation warrant (ab109) r20900027-1. Ryan Gabrielson is a reporter for ProPublica covering health care. Correctional officers, who do not carry firearms, are required by the state to perform hourly checks. Since 2006, The Vanguard has provided Davis and Yolo County with some of the best groundbreaking news coverage on local government and policy issues affecting our city, our schools, the county, and the Sacramento Region. Within the past two months, three dozen correctional officers have retired or quit their posts. Whether Brock reported his fears about his cellmate to jail staff is unclear. EOW: February 11, 2023. Fresno County has denied all wrongdoing in the case. Jerry Brown and state lawmakers reduced the number of convicts sent to the prisons. Simmons, 23, was arrested and put in jail on Feb. 10, 2021, and died of blunt-force head trauma seven days later on Feb. 17, 2021, according to his custodial death report. McClatchy and ProPublica detailed Herreras case, and the mystery surrounding it, in an April article, the first in a series examining conditions inside California jails after historic prison reforms, called realignment, which diverted thousands of convicts to county custody. The jail classified Herrera as a gang member and assigned him to one of the pods for maximum security inmates. He was convicted and sentenced in July 2018 to 14 years in prison, court records show. As of As Sheriff of Fresno County it is my pleasure to welcome you to the Sheriffs Office web site. In addition, my experience in jail taught me empathy for people in jail, something that is sorely lacking in our society. He did not look healthy at all. Its okay to put our stories on pages with ads, but not ads specifically sold against our stories. His parents had encouraged him to barter for books and newspapers anything he could to preoccupy himself until his trial on burglary and assault charges. Since then, four have died at the hands of other inmates. As some state prisoners sentences ended in 2012, and realignment blocked new intakes, the prison population dropped by 20,000 within months. But a cellmate said that doesnt tell the full story of Erkins final hours. Box 11867, Fresno CA 93775-1867. LOADED FIREARM IN PUBLIC (PERSON OR VEHICLE), POSSESSION OF FIREARM BY FELON OR NARCOTIC DRUG USER, PERSON PORHIBITED FROM POSS A FIREARM SHALL NOT POSS AMMUNITION, TAMPER WITH IDENTIFICATION MARKS ON FIREARM, N MARKS AVE & W NIELSEN AVE FRESNO CA 93706, STALKING WHEN TEMPORARY RESTRAINING ORDER, ETC, VIOLATION OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE PROTECTIVE ORDER, INFLICT CORPORAL INJURY ON SPOUSE/COHABITANT, RECEIVING STOLEN PROPERTY - MOTOR VEHICLE, N MILLARD AVE & E IOWA AVE, FRESNO, CA, USA, MAGEC-MULTI AGENCY GANG ENFORECMENT CONSORTIUM, CARRY A LOADED FIREARM NOT REGISTERED OWNER, N 1ST ST & E BELMONT AVE, FRESNO, CA, USA, PRCS WARRANT - POST RELEASE COMMUNITY SUPERVISION VIOLATION WARRANT (AB109), 525 N LAFAYETTE AVE,W BELMONT AVE & W DUDLEY AVE,FRESNO COUNTY,C, FAILURE TO PROVIDE TRUE REGISTRATION INFO, SALE/TRANSPORT OF NARCOTICS/CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE, NARCOTICS OTHER THAN MARIJUANA POSSESSION, NEW ERA SATELLITE (1951 W CLINTON AVE,FRESNO), S GOLDENROD AVE/W CALIFORNIA AVE,KERMAN CA,93630, CARRY A CONCEALED FIREARM - UPON A PERSON, CARRYING A CONCEALED LOADED FIREARM - ON PERSON, N JACKSON AVE & E YALE AVE,FRESNO,CA,93702, 1919 E SUSSEX WAY #209,FRESNO,CA,93726,USA, E ASHLAN AVE & N BLACKSTONE AVE,FRESNO,CA, CORPORAL INJURY TO SPOUSE/COHABITANT W/PRIORS, E SHIELDS AVE & N PALM AVE, FRESNO, CA, USA, ASSAULT WITH A DEADLY WEAPON OTHER THAN A FIREARM, POSSESSION OF CONTROL SUBSTANCE FOR SALES, DRIVER WITH .08% ALCOHOL, CAUSING DEATH/INJURY, MSR WARRANT - MANDATORY SUPERVISED VIOLATION WARRANT (AB109), SEX OFFENSES, CHILD UNDER 14, 3 OR MORE ACTS, E OLIVE AVE & N PALM AVE, FRESNO, CA, USA, SONORA MINI MART MENDOTA, CA,1883 7TH ST, 93640, ZIP GUN; MANUFACTURE,IMPORTATION,SALE OR POSSESSION, ORAL COPULATION OR SEXUAL PENETRATION OF A CHILD WHO IS 10 YEARS OF AGE OR YOUNGER, DRIVING W/B.A.L. Effective Saturday, May 29, 2021, inmate visitationsat all Fresno County Jail facilities are allowed. Three young men jailed for different reasons. and Montes were arrested for the 2019 Fresno shooting at a neighborhood NFL football watch party that resulted in 4 deaths and 6 injuries in Fresno, California. He told his partner, Im going to go. Anyone interested in interning at the Courthouse or volunteering to monitor cases should contact the Vanguard at info(at)davisvanguard(dot)org - please email info(at)davisvanguard(dot)org if you find inaccuracies in this report. Attention friends and family of Fresno County Jail inmates. 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. Many departures were retirements, replacing experienced officers with rookies. As a result, inmates are dying in markedly higher numbers. And the consent decree required Mims to set some of them free. Fresno County Jail Inmate Information Line: (559) 600-8600 or (559) 475-9491 Main Jail: 1225 M Street, Fresno, CA 93721 North Annex Jail: 1265 M Street, Fresno, CA 93721 South Annex Jail: 2280 Fresno Street, Fresno, CA 93721. His lips were turning blue, but he told his bunkmate he had no previous medical problems. (To inquire about syndication or licensing opportunities, contact. 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. Two-thirds of the people kept in the jail are awaiting trial, accused but not convicted. This may take several hours from the time the criminal offender was "released" in court. Purses, backpacks briefcases, cell phones and other personal effects will not be allowed into the secured areas of the facility. The Fresno County Jail has a troubling distinction. Live Scan fingerprint services are located inside the Fresno County Main Jail lobby located at 1225 M Street in downtown Fresno. When Brock was arrested, his family couldnt afford to post bail. Herrera was working as a janitor at the local high school, and as far as his parents knew, the only thing he had ever stolen was a family barbeque smoker he used to party with friends and never returned, his father said. In the seven years before the 2011 realignment, 23 inmates died in jail custody, data from the California Department of Justice shows. 3333 E. American Ave, Suite GFresno, CA 93725(559) 600-3400. Some California county jails saw their rate of inmate-on-inmate homicides triple or quadruple. Police said Herrera pointed a gun at an officer before surrendering. It has the highest number of deaths of any California county jail. Realignment and subsequent sentencing reforms brought relief to state prisons and new burdens for many local governments. Who is accountable? It can be reached 24 hours a day, 365 days a year by calling 559-475-9491. info@davisvanguard.org, 2020 The Peoples Vanguard of Davis | Sacramento Website design and Implementation by, Superintendent to Present to Council Update on DJUSD Demographics and Student Population Forecast, Letter: University Mall Redevelopment Project, Report: Harmful Legislation Devised for Potentially Unfounded Concern over Shoplifting, Writer Argues New Yorks Bail Reform Success Story after Removal of Cash Bail, Columnist Notes Rare Victory, Supreme Court Gives Death Row Inmate Chance to Spend Rest of Life in Jail, Reform Efforts Implemented by States to Address Family Separation Due to Incarceration, 45 San Francisco Organizations Send Letter Pleading to Maintain Citys Sanctuary Status, OC Register Wants News Media Let Back into Prisons after Nearly 30-Year Ban, UC Berkeley Unnames Moses Hall over Racist Ties. Coroners Reports are provided when the investigation is completed. The legislation rerouted people convicted of nonviolent, nonsexual and nonserious crimes to serve sentences in county jails. 2023. He was pronounced dead about 25 minutes later. The number of inmates increased by almost 10,000, to about 82,000. An investigation by McClatchy and ProPublica has found that many county jails have struggled to handle the influx of violent and mentally ill inmates incarcerated for longer sentences than ever before. We do not generally permit translation of our stories into another language. Yet a third inmate arrived soon after Brock, booked for a five-year-old probation violation. He remained unconscious for two weeks, clinging to life. Direct media inquiries can be made to Public Health Communication at (559) 259-1798 or (559) 974-2302. Months before the toilets backed up, a convicted murderer raped and killed a man booked on drug charges. On June 26, Pacheco was transferred back to Fresno Countys jail from the state prison where he was serving a sentence for robbery, according to documents filed last week in an ongoing federal lawsuit. Deijon Erkins did not know what had happened to Ari, the family nickname for his brother. Fresno, CA 93712. If you use canonical metadata, please use the ProPublica URL. It is up to us to demand that the Board allocates funds and fixes the deplorable conditions in the jail. 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. FRESNO COUNTY, CALIFORNIA: Tina Gonzalez, a 26-year-old correctional officer from Fresno County Jail has been described as "depraved" by her boss. There was no reason why that boy shouldve died, she said in a telephone interview. They didnt know how long he had been without oxygen, Rankin said. They are funding and presiding over an institution of death and torture. (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. The jail population has grown since 2000, of course, but jail deaths have grown more. Pontotoc County Sheriff's Office, OK. EOW: February 19, 2023. 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. The Fresno County Arrest Records Search (California) links below open in a new window and take you to third party websites that provide access to Fresno County public records. 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. Christiana, who recently turned 3, is only beginning to ask questions. Feb. 4, 2023 5 AM PT. It was an urgent matter, the ruling states, because if the defendants mental disorder is not treated with antipsychotic medications, it is probable that serious harm to the physical or mental health of the patient will result., He was still awaiting transfer a month later, when Brock was placed in his cell. Torres got pulled over for a broken taillight. While inside, Herrera spoke to his parents but never mentioned the violence. It requires Sheriff Mims to hire additional correctional officers, protect and provide services to inmates, ease overcrowding and provide adequate healthcare. Detention Officer Kenneth Fowler. (The bunkmate, now serving time in a state prison, requested his name not be used out of fear for his safety.). All members of the group must clear the metal detector or they will not be permitted access into the facility. A man down call was issued and the staff started CPR. - (626) 585-9600 - dstormer@hadsellstormer.com ADVOCATES SUE FRESNO COUNTY FOR DEATH OF 29-YEAR-OLD EPILEPTIC MAN CAUSED BY DEPRIVATION OF MEDICAL CARE Please register to access this content. 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.. An intake photo showed Herrera holding a dry-erase board identifying himself as a Northerner from Reedley, a subsect of the Norteos street gang. OF .01 OR GREATER WHILE ON PROBATION FOR VC23152 OR VC23153, METAL KNUCKLES; MANUFACTURE,IMPORTATION,SALE OR POSSESSION, COMMITTING OR ATTEMPTING FELONY WITH A DEADLY WEAPON, DIRK OR DAGGER: MANUFACTURE,IMPORTATION,SALE OR POSSESSION, CARRY A CONCEALED FIREARM - VEHICLE DRIVER, ENDANGERING/CAUSING/PERMITTING PHYSICAL/MENTAL INJURY TO CHILD, POSSESSION OF A CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE W/FIREARM, FAIL ANNUAL UPDATE AS A TRANSIENT SEX OFFENDER, UNAUTHORIZED REMOVAL OF RECYCLABLE MATERIAL, DUI CAUSING INJURY/DEATH - UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL & DRUGS, SHORT BARRELED RIFLE/SHOTGUN;MANUFACTURE,IMPORTATION,SALE OR POSSESSION, ASSAULT ON OFFICER/FIREMAN WITH DEADLY WEAPON, ICE-U.S. IMMIGRATION AND CUSTOMS ENFORCEMENT, ILLEGAL POSSESSION OF TEAR GAS OR TEAR GAS WEAPON BY FELON, N HULBERT AVE & W GETTYSBURG AVE, FRESNO, CA. She also said one of the most painful moments of her time in office was releasing inmates during the economic downturn. 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. Though the killer was someone in custody, officials were silent about the investigation for much of the past year. 1, 2021 at 11:52 AM PDT. Touring of the facility is a privilege, not a right Tours are given at the discretion of the Sheriff and Fresno County Jail has the right to refuse entrance to any person or group. Inmate Info (559) 600-8600or (559) 475-9491, North Annex Jail1265 M StreetFresno, CA 93721, South Annex Jail2280 Fresno StreetFresno, CA 93721. var addy_text5aba5b4c3f45a5c70aa7fe29b2b82d1d = 'Coroner' + '@' + 'fresnosheriff' + '.' + 'org';document.getElementById('cloak5aba5b4c3f45a5c70aa7fe29b2b82d1d').innerHTML += '
'+addy_text5aba5b4c3f45a5c70aa7fe29b2b82d1d+'<\/a>'; Sheriff-Coroner Unit CommanderLieutenantJon AlvaradoOffice 559-600-8670This email address is being protected from spambots. Caleb Lawrence McGillvary (born September 3, 1988), also referred to as Kai, is a Canadian man who first became known from the internet viral video "Kai the Hatchet-Wielding Hitchhiker", which featured him recounting a crime he witnessed while hitchhiking.McGillvary subsequently received national attention in the press. A pepper-ball launcher was rushed from the security station. In 2015, the sheriffs office agreed to a second consent decree in another class-action lawsuit over jail conditions. Democratic Gov. addy5aba5b4c3f45a5c70aa7fe29b2b82d1d = addy5aba5b4c3f45a5c70aa7fe29b2b82d1d + 'fresnosheriff' + '.' + 'org'; A judge on Feb. 5 ordered that he spend four weeks in jail to resolve the theft charge. Talk to Us. Several county jail systems, including Fresnos, were already under court orders for violating the constitutional rights of people in their cells. Magsig and the other Board members are public servants without a conscience. In January 2018, Lorenzo Herrera, 19, Ernest Brock, 20, and Andre Erkins, 30, were booked into the Fresno County Jail. Suggestions when Making Funeral Arrangements. The Inmate Information web page can help with VINE registration if the offender is under the custody of the Fresno County Jail. There are approximately 1,300 employees at the agency who are dedicated to providing professional law enforcement services to the citizens of Fresno County. The phone at Carlos and Anna Herreras home rang about 7:45 p.m., and they were asked to come to the jail. They had their first child, Joseph, in 2014, and Christiana was born in spring 2016. Meza misses her partner and the better life they were trying to build. Pacheco broke into the backyard of a pregnant woman's home in Fresno . Hint: Registering for a FREE Local Crime News membership will give you more search results. This is still the case. Heres Why. Bothered by the death of an otherwise healthy man in jail on a probation violation, Sanders wrote to officials accusing them of neglect and sent a copy to Erkins mom. Yes, he had a gang history, an officer wrote on his intake form. Please take a moment to navigate our site and learn more about the Sheriff's Office, its services and how it can better serve you. Fresno County Main Jail 1225 'M' Street Fresno, CA 93712. No other jail in California has seen a sharper increase in inmate deaths than the Fresno County Jail, whose three buildings house more than 3,000 inmates, mostly in the concrete cube known as the Main Jail in downtown Fresno. That was met with negative results.. All participants are required to complete and sign an, Members of the group must dress in compliance with the. While the victim was unloading groceries, Erkins took her purse from her shopping cart, the arrest report said.