A Ventura County sheriff’s deputy was dismissed from his put up final 12 months after it was found that he had an inappropriate relationship with a lady in custody, based on a newly launched report.
Tyler Ebell, a former senior deputy with the Ventura County Sheriff’s Workplace, obtained discover of his dismissal final November, paperwork first obtained by the Ventura County Star present.
The company started investigating Ebell after receiving a tip from one other worker, based on a assertion launched by Sheriff Jim Fryhoff on Friday. The division didn’t present extra data citing a pending lawsuit.
In response to the division’s discover, Ebell uncared for his obligation when he allegedly fraternized with a lady who was in custody on the Ventura County Jail and had a sexual relationship along with her after she was paroled.
Ebell had been promoted to senior deputy in November 2020. A couple of days earlier than his promotion, safety footage on the jail captured him speaking with the girl within the reserving space, and he reminded her to be discreet about their interactions, based on the report.
When deputies on the jail questioned Ebell’s habits, he pulled rank and lied that the girl — recognized by the Star as Nastaza Schmidt — was working as his informant, the report states.
Ebell allegedly deposited $1,585.00 into Schmidt’s inmate account, smuggled books, meals, and different gadgets into the jail for her, and paid $5,000 for her bail when she was launched.
In response to the report, Ebell allegedly spoke with Schmidt by telephone on a recorded line for hours whereas she was in custody and he was on obligation.
The report cites not less than one incident of unreported home violence wherein Ebell allegedly pushed Schmidt, requiring her to obtain medical care exterior the jail’s amenities.
Ebell additionally allegedly listened in on her telephone calls from jail and used official Ventura County databases to watch her contacts with legislation enforcement and monitor courtroom exercise. The report mentioned he drove Schmidt round in his work automobile whereas he was on obligation.
Two off-duty deputies noticed Ebell and the girl at a Ventura restaurant on Dec. 30, 2021, simply months after she had been launched from jail.
“Any such habits and felony sophistication is commonly anticipated by inmates, however not from any member of the division,” the report acknowledged.
The division charged Ebell with dishonesty, corrupt use of official authority and affect, inexcusable neglect of obligation, and acts incompatible with public service.
Ebell’s lawyer, George Tourkow, mentioned in an e mail that his consumer “vehemently” denies the allegations and might’t remark additional on pending litigation.
Ebell appealed his dismissal on Dec. 28 in a Skelly listening to, a pre-disciplinary assembly for public workers, based on sheriff’s spokesperson Captain Dean Worthy. Ebell resigned the subsequent day.
Schmidt was booked Sept. 16, 2020, and was in jail for a couple of 12 months awaiting a trial for alleged identification theft and possession of drug paraphernalia and housebreaking instruments. In response to the report, Ebell was an “energetic participant” in her arrest.
Schmidt died Feb. 28 at age 34 in Thousand Oaks throughout a housebreaking try at a self-storage unit. Officers mentioned she collapsed whereas operating away after the unit’s proprietor appeared. An post-mortem revealed she had ingested a deadly quantity of methamphetamine, and she or he might need suffered a coronary heart assault as she fled.
