Inmate found dead in San Luis Obispo County jail

An inmate died at the San Luis Obispo County Jail on Friday.

The sheriff’s office said jail staff found 56-year-old Ernest Ortiz from Grover Beach unresponsive in his bunk at the County jail around 1:05 p.m.

Jail staff said they began CPR and used narcan. Their efforts were unsuccessful and Ortiz was later pronounced dead.

A short time later, another inmate who had been seen with Ortiz just prior, collapsed from an apparent drug overdose.

He received an injection of narcan and was revived.

This incident is being investigated as a possible drug overdose/use.

Jails across the state are dealing with incidents of drug overdose, according to the sheriff’s office.

Just last week at the Santa Barbara County Jail, 18 people including inmates and Deputies were treated for suspected opioid overdoses.

The District Attorney’s Office is leading the investigation.