Jail Inmate Dies After Collapsing

A 28-year-old Camarillo man who was in custody at the Ventura County Jail on an alleged parole violation died Saturday morning after collapsing while playing basketball at the facility’s rooftop recreation area, authorities said.

The man, whose name was not released pending notification of his family, told fellow inmates he was feeling dizzy shortly before 9 a.m. at the Victoria Avenue jail in Ventura, Sheriff’s Capt. Brent Kerr said. Seconds later he fell to the ground and stopped breathing. At least one inmate performed chest compressions on the man before emergency workers reached him, Kerr said.

The inmate died less than an hour later at Ventura County Medical Center. Authorities believe he may have had a preexisting medical condition. An autopsy is scheduled for today.