Nature of Incident: Death of Former Inmate
Report Number: 18-143355
Location: Pre-Trial Detention Facility; 800 S. Victoria Ave., Ventura, CA
Date & Time: 09/12/2018 @ 10:50 AM
Unit(s) Responsible: Sheriff’s Major Crimes Bureau
PTDF Classification Unit
PTDF Legal Unit
Ventura County Medical Examiner’s Office
(S)uspects, (V)ictims, (P)arty (D)ecedent City of Residence Age
(D) Rey Manuel Zavala
Moorpark, CA
25
Narrative:
On September 12, 2018, at approximately 10:50 AM, deputies at the Pre-Trial Detention Facility
(PTDF) noticed that Mr. Rey Zavala was experiencing a medical emergency in the dayroom of
his assigned housing section. Emergency aid was immediately rendered by deputies and
medical staff. Ventura City Fire Department and American Medical Response personnel were
also immediately summoned to provide more advanced care. Mr. Zavala was transported from
the PTDF to the Ventura County Medical Center, where out of deference to his family and the
seriousness of his medical condition, he was released from custody. Later in the day, he was
transported to Cottage Hospital in Santa Barbara for further treatment. On September 13, 2018,
Mr. Zavala was pronounced deceased.
As a matter of policy, the cause of any incident resulting in an inmate’s death is investigated by
the Sheriff’s Major Crimes Bureau. This investigation revealed that Mr. Zavala died of a medical
condition. In addition, the Ventura County Medical Examiner’s Office conducted an autopsy and
determined that Mr. Zavala died of natural causes.
Mr. Zavala is an organ donor and his family hopes that through his death he may save others.
Prepared by: Detective Sergeant Carlos Macias
Page 2 of 2
News Release Date: 09/17/2018
Media Follow-Up Contact: Captain Garo Kuredjian
(805) 797-6322; [email protected]
Approved by: Captain Jeff Miller
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