Update by the edhat staff
The Sheriff’s Office has provided the inmate’s name and additional regarding his death.
Notification to the decedent’s next-of-kin has been completed and he is identified as 57-year-old David Lee Ligon from Santa Maria. He was booked on May 27, 2023, by the Sheriff’s Office for possession of narcotics for sale (felony), transportation of a controlled substance (felony), possession of narcotics (misdemeanor), and possession of paraphernalia (misdemeanor). He was being held on $30,000 bail.
The Sheriff’s Office states an initial investigation indicates this is a probable overdose related death, however final cause and manner of death are pending.
By the edhat staff
The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office reports a second inmate death within a week.
On Monday, May 29, 2023, at approximately 2:19 p.m., a Sheriff’s Custody Deputy and WellPath medical staff member were conducting medical procedures within B-Unit of the Northern Branch Jail, reports the Sheriff’s Office.
“While checking on inmates housed in B-Unit, they found a male inmate who did not respond to the check-in procedure. Custody deputies and WellPath medical staff entered the cell to physically check the inmate’s condition and found him unresponsive and not breathing,” the press release states.
Custody Deputies and WellPath medical staff began life-saving measures including administering two rounds of Narcan, performing CPR, and placement of an automated external defibrillator (AED). County Fire and American Medical Response (AMR) were summoned and responded to the jail facility. Paramedics continued life-saving measures, but the inmate did not recover and was pronounced dead at 2:46 p.m. without being transported.
The identity of the inmate will be released once notification to his next-of-kin has been completed.
“Detectives from the Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigation Bureau and the Coroner’s Office are conducting an extensive investigation into the inmate’s death. The Sheriff’s Office will share additional information as it becomes available for release,” the press release states.
This follows another inmate death reported on May 25 at the Sheriff’s Main Jail where a deputy and WellPath nurse found an unresponsive inmate with foam coming out of his mouth. Three rounds of Narcan and additional life saving measures were performed but did not revive the inmate.
The Sheriff’s Office stated they believe this death was due to an overdose while details were not released on the cause of the May 29th death.
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May 27, 2023: Jail Inmate Dies from Suspected Overdose
@01:47 – There is nothing wrong with me, really. Do you have an answer to my (legitimate) question? Why should I have any shame for asking this question? And, the illegal drug user, the human, that very likely knows they are using a substance that could kill them, not so much.
DOULIE – any “legitimacy” in your question was immediately shattered by your insincere and belittling 2nd sentence. As to your last sentence of the 2:28 comment, not even sure what you’re trying to say there.
Alex, where is the “joke” you claim Doulie made? I don’t see it. I see him asking a question, and making a comment. Then i see about a dozen of you dog pile onto him and bash him for asking a question. This is a forum. People ask questions. FFS…get over it. Should I spend a lot of time nit picking at your posts and bashing you when you ask a question. Lighten up. All of you.
I have to back up Doulie here, while his question was a bit rough, he is totally fine in asking that question. His question made me think. Why are there ODs in the male pop, but none in the female pop? A very legitimate questions.
I think Edhat needs to remove the downvote thing. There are people here that are just rude and mean and will DV any post from anyone for any reason. Kinda ridiculous. Especially some of the loud mouths here, brave soldiers hiding behind a screen….
Doulie, Take the L. That was highly insensitive and rude.
Doulie, good job getting entertainment and laugh out of other peoples’ addiction and suffering. Keep on laughing, until it’s someone you know, and then I guess those jokes will turn to tears real quick.
BIG – What is the “L?”
L = “Loss” usually
ALEX – My comment was not written to entertain anyone. I am not entertained by the addict’s issues or an overdose & I don’t consider these issues a laughing matter. More about my to my question. I wondered why it is only men, and as best I recall, no women have overdosed in the jail recently. Did you ever think about this? For this reason I commented that it appeared the boy’s weren’t willing to share their poison. If this were occurring isn’t it likely women could also be victims? Should I believe drugs only find their way into the men’s section of the jail? Should I then believe there is absolutely no way for some of those drugs (or poison, as I wrote) to find their way into the women’s section of this same jail?
It time for civilian oversight of the County Jail.
08:06 – I’m not sure how civilian oversight can help. I’m guessing the sheriff is doing as much as possible to solve this problem and is likely in contact with other agencies to learn how they address smuggling. If this is accurate, and the problem continues, it’s time to look at the “elephant in the room,” employee’s.
This is probably an ignorant question, but how do people get drugs into prison? Are they able to sneak them in somehow or is an employee corrupt? Is the booking into jail process not thorough? This is an honest question.
Likely a bit of both
8:52 – No, it’s a great question! There are many ways, but overall, it’s apparently not too difficult. Drugs are rampant in jails and prisons. It’s surprising though, considering all the walls and closed security checkpoints leading into the prisons. Seems walls, razor wire, pat downs, xrays and the like don’t stop drugs at the border…. oops, I mean “entrance” to the jails and prisons.
08:52 – I’ve heard visitors/persons entering the jail for booking will place the drug in a balloon to protect the drug. The balloon is placed in their mouth (easy to detect) or secreted in the vagina or anus and removed once inside. Or, they swallow the balloon and recover it at the next bowel movement. Employee’s at other facilities throughout the states have been arrested/convicted for providing drugs to inmates.
You might want to look at how the English language deals with possessives and plurals.
Seriously 1772? That’s what you took from their comment? They were all good points and the only point that you made is that you are rude.
When was the last time a (female) inmate was reported to have overdosed? Appears the boy’s aren’t willing to share their poison.
Wtf is wrong with you, really? These are two human lives we’re talking about here. Have some basic decency, or say nothing. Shame on you.