Two charged with manslaughter in death of San Miguel man
Two correctional officers charged in bar fight death
Update Sept. 19, 2014: San Luis Sheriff’s Detectives obtained arrest warrants for two correctional officers who are implicated in the death of a San Miguel man. Thursday the detectives set out to arrest the suspects.
The suspects are Sergio Aranda, 35, of Salinas and Travis Woolf, 36 of San Miguel. They are charged in connection with the death of 54-year-old Alvaro Jaramillo Medrano of San Miguel. Medrano died during a fight with the suspects on Sept. 7 outside the Elk Horn Bar in San Miguel. The suspects in this case are employed as correctional officers at Salinas Valley State Prison in Monterey County.
Detectives responded to the Salinas area and Woolf was arrested at his place of employment without incident. While attempting to arrest Aranda, the Sheriff’s Office was notified that an attorney was posting bail for the arrest warrant.
Both are being charged with voluntary manslaughter. According to sheriff’s spokesman Tony Cipolla, this investigation was lengthy, complicated by the number of individuals involved, and by conflicting statements from some of those individuals. Additional information discovered during the investigation resulted in obtaining the arrest warrants for Aranda and Woolf.
Update Sept. 11, 2014: The San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office declined Wednesday to name the individuals who fought Sunday night in San Miguel with 54-year-old Alvaro Jaramillo Medrano. Medrano died shortly after the fight.
Two unconfirmed reports say those involved in Medrano’s death were correctional officers. “Are sheriff’s deputies protecting the correctional officers responsible for killing a man?” asked Juliana Espinosa in a letter to the editor.
Sheriff’s spokesman Tony Cipolla responded to the question, saying, “At this time we do not have any suspects in custody. As such, we do not release the names of those involved unless they have been arrested and taken into custody. The investigation into this incident is continuing.”
Coroner identifies man who died after fight in San Miguel
Update Sept. 9, 2014: The Coroner’s Unit of the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office has identified the male victim who died during a fight in San Miguel on Sept. 7. He is identified as 54-year-old Alvaro Jaramillo Medrano of San Miguel.
Next of kin have been notified. An autopsy is planned for Wednesday. The results of that autopsy will be pending toxicology results which are expected to take six to eight weeks. This is believed to be an isolated incident and there are no outstanding suspects. Investigators continue to question those involved in the fight. This investigation remains open and active.
Update Sept. 8, 2014: The San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office has not yet identified the man who died following a bar fight in San Miguel late Sunday night. The sheriff’s office has not released his name pending notification of next of kin. An autopsy is planned Wednesday to determine cause of death.
There are no suspects in death of man outside of the Elkhorn bar
Original report: On Sunday at 10:44 p.m. San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to a report of a fight in progress between two groups of people that began in front of the Elkhorn Bar in San Miguel.
When Deputies arrived, they found a male victim of the fight unconscious. Deputies began CPR. The victim was transported to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.
At this time, those involved in the fight are being questioned. No suspects are currently in custody. This investigation is active and on-going. As a result, no further details are being released at this time.
The Elkhorn Bar, originally founded in 1853, has been in the news for violence before. Back in March of 2011 a man was shot in the leg in front of the bar, according to reports. He survived.