Jail on Lockdown After Exercise Yard Fight

The Santa Barbara County Jail is on lockdown after a disturbance in the exercise yard sent one inmate to the hospital and left five others with injuries.

The incident occurred around 11 a.m. on Friday in the yard and involved about 36 inmates. According to authorities, jail medical staff had to treat five inmates for minor injuries, while one inmate was taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. No jail staffers were hurt during the incident.

A press release from Lt. Butch Arnoldi didn’t give any information on what caused the breakout of violence. He did indicate the jail was placed in an immediate lockdown, which will remain in effect as authorities investigate the incident. He said the lockdown will continue into the weekend.

Arnoldi said the incident could impact the weekend visitation schedule. People who planned to visit an inmate in jail should call (805) 681-4260 before making the trip, he said.