A vigil is scheduled tonight for Raymond Herrera, the 52-year-old inmate from Lompoc who died last month in County Jail. On his seventh day in jail waiting for a pretrial hearing, Herrera collapsed in his cell and became unresponsive. Critics of medical services provided by the jail contend Herrera had not been given prescribed medication during his last seven days.
Herrera's family retained attorney Ryan Harris to look into what they believe is a suspicious case. Harris offered few details about the case. He said, “[This] just can't happen in 2015 in any part of our society.”
According to his obituary, Herrera was well liked and remembered for his laugh and sense of humor. He was a Lompoc High graduate who worked in commercial and residential painting, according to his friends and family. They said he was a nonviolent offender, in custody because he could not afford to post bail. Sheriff’s spokesperson Kelly Hoover said Herrera was in jail for two warrants on probation violations of being under the influence of a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance, and driving with a suspended license.