Salinas Valley State Prison corrections officers charged in fatal bar brawl

Two Salinas Valley State Prison corrections officers are charged with manslaughter in connection with a fatal bar brawl earlier this month.

According to the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office, Sergio Aranda and Travis Woolf were arrested Thursday on charges of voluntary manslaughter.

Deputies say the two got into a fight with 54-year-old Alvarao Jaramillo Medrano outside a San Miguel bar on Sept. 7. Medrano died from his injuries.

“A cause of death has not been determined. An autopsy was performed, but we are awaiting the results of toxicology tests,” said Tony Cipolla, spokesman for the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office. “At that point the coroner will make a determination of cause and manner of death.”

Officials at the Salinas Valley State Prison said they would not comment on the case, but both men have been placed on paid leave pending investigation. Prison officials say they didn’t know the two were suspects in this case until they were arrested Thursday.

Woolf, 36, of San Miguel has worked at the prison since 2001.

Aranda, 35, of Salinas has worked at the prison since 2006.