Inmate Punches, Stomps Deputy

The Santa Barbara County Jail went into lockdown over the weekend after an inmate attacked a custody deputy Friday evening. The deputy was treated for a broken nose and bruises to his head and torso.

According to Sheriff’s Department spokesman Drew Sugars, the male deputy was escorting an inmate back to a dayroom common area, and when a sliding door opened, inmate Jesse Mendez Contreras Jr., 29, allegedly rushed through the door and attacked the 44-year-old deputy, punching him in the face and knocking the deputy to the ground.

Contreras stomped the deputy with his feet, according to Sugars, and when other deputies arrived he apparently “continued to threaten to harm” them. He was eventually brought under control by the use of a Taser.

Contreras, who had been in jail since July 16 facing allegations for felony drug charges and an assault for a deadly weapon charge, was arrested for felony resisting arrest/threatening an officer, misdemeanor resisting a public officer and misdemeanor battery on a peace officer. He will next be in court in Lompoc on October 12.

The jail was on lockdown until Monday morning.