Ventura County Sheriff's Department

Location: Sheriff’s Pre-Trial Detention Facility, Ventura, CA
Date & Time: 05/01/2008 at 12:37 am

Name of Subject: WOOD, Joel S.
Unit Responsible: Detention Services Division

The inmate, a 37-year-old resident of Ventura, was found not breathing in his cell at approximately11:44 pm on Wednesday, during one of the frequent and regular checks of each cell in the jail. Sheriff’s Deputies and jail medical personnel immediately initiated Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation and worked to revive him. The Fire Department and Paramedics arrived at the jail and transported the inmate to Community Memorial Hospital in Ventura. The inmate was pronounced dead at the hospital at approximately 12:37 am Thursday morning. He had been arrested by the Ventura Police Department and booked into the jail Tuesday on an outstanding warrant for petty theft and battery.

The Ventura County Sheriff’s Major Crimes Unit responded to the jail and is conducting an investigation into the circumstances of the inmate’s death. The preliminary investigation indicates foul play is not suspected.