Coronavirus Outbreak Forces Ventura County Jail To Release 76 Inmates Syndicated Local – CBS Los Angeles
VENTURA (CBSLA) – Dozens of inmates were released early this week due to a coronavirus outbreak in the Ventura County Jail system.
Seventy-six inmates were released in an effort to mitigate the effects of a massive outbreak in which 45 inmates and three staff members tested positive for COVID-19, the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office reported Tuesday.
The inmates who were released had less than 60 days left on their sentences and were all serving time for non-violent crimes, such as burglary and drug offenses, the sheriff’s department said.
UPDATE: Authorities say the missing woman, Zeneta Kertis, has been located.
(From previous) Ojai Police are asking for the public’s help in locating a missing woman.
Deputies are searching for 68-year-old Zeneta Kertis, according to a Facebook post Dec. 22 from Ojai Police Chief Jose Rivera.
Kertis is described as African American, 5 feet 7 inches tall and 125 pounds, with salt and pepper hair and brown eyes.
She suffers from dementia and has mobility restrictions, according to Rivera.
Kertis was last seen Dec. 22 at 10 a.m. at her residence in the 4200 block of Grand Avenue in Ojai.
She was wearing a gray jacket, a black and white long sleeve shirt, black pants and mismatched pink sneakers.
Ventura County Sheriff’s reports inmate death
VENTURA COUNTY, Calif. The Ventura County Sheriff s Office reported an inmate death in the County Jail Monday afternoon.
The inmate was identified as Steven Johnson, 37, from Ojai.
On Dec. 15 around 11:15 a.m., deputies at the Ventura County Jail reportedly found Johnson alone and unresponsive in his cell.
Deputies provided aid and called for the medical staff. Ventura City Fire and AMR also responded to the jail and transported Johnson to Ventura Community Memorial Hospital.
A few days later, Johnson was transferred to Ventura County Medical Center for additional care.
On Sunday at around 9:13 p.m, Johnson was pronounced dead by the hospital.