Johnny DeWitt, 49, of Santa Maria collapsed on the morning of Nov. 26 while in custody at the medical dorm of Santa Barbara County’s Main Jail. He was pronounced dead at the hospital less than one hour later.
Dewitt had been in custody with the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office since Sept. 28, booked under suspicion of criminal threats, unlawful possession of ammunition, and drug possession, according to a release from the Sheriff’s Office. He had a pending court date of Dec. 2, Kelly Hoover, a spokesperson for the Sheriff’s Office, told the Sun.
Hoover said the Coroner’s Office is still conducting the investigation into DeWitt’s death, which will include an autopsy and toxicology lab reports.
“Based on the preliminary assessment of available information and evidence, it appears that Mr. DeWitt passed away from natural causes,” the press release from the Sheriff’s Office said.
DeWitt had been in the Main Jail’s medical dorm since he was booked into the jail in September, according to Hoover. After he collapsed on Nov. 26, he became unresponsive.
“It appeared that Mr. Dewitt was experiencing a medical emergency,” the press release said.
Jail personnel responded, initiated life saving efforts, and called for emergency responders. DeWitt was transported to Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital where he did not respond to life-saving efforts. He was pronounced dead at the hospital at approximately 10:27 a.m.
“No further details are being released until the completion of the investigation,” Hoover told the Sun. She also could not say why DeWitt was housed in the medical dorm as medical details are considered confidential.
The inmate death is the second this year for the Sherriff’s Office. Raymond Herrera, 52, suffered a medical emergency while in the Main Jail on June 15 and later died at Cottage Hospital. After Herrera’s death, several groups held a vigil in front of the jail, and some county residents questioned the quality of care Herrera received while in jail.
That care is provided by Corizon Health, a Tennessee-based company that holds a contract with the county to provide medical services at the jail. Two former Santa Barbara County Jail inmates filed separate lawsuits against the company earlier this year.
Gaik Sokhikian filed a suit on Oct. 29, alleging medical neglect that caused lasting damage to his leg. He had a broken ankle when he was booked into jail, on Aug. 25 under charges that included driving under the influence, stalking, and injury to a child.
A lawsuit filed against Corizon in federal court on Nov. 3 alleges that a man diagnosed with schizophrenia was denied an adequate mental health screening when he was booked into jail on Nov. 4, 2014, on suspicion of resisting arrest and violation of probation.
Despite the allegations against Corizon Health, Hoover told the Sun, “The Sheriff’s Office is confident in the quality of services provided by Corizon.”
This article appears in Dec 3-10, 2015.
