NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – The Lake County Sheriff's Office reported Friday that doctors have declared the deputy injured this week off the Mendocino Coast brain dead.
Jake Steely, 39, and his 11-year-old son were rescued from the ocean at Mendocino Headlands State Park on Monday, as Lake County News has reported.
Steely subsequently was flown to Enloe Medical Center in Chico for treatment, according to Lt. Steve Brooks of the Lake County Sheriff's Office.
At 2:40 p.m. Thursday, doctors at Enloe Hospital determined that Steely had suffered irreversible brain damage and pronounced him brain dead, Brooks said.
Deputy Steely, a nine-year law enforcement veteran at both the Lakeport Police Department and the Lake County Sheriff’s Office, had chosen to be an organ donor. With his family’s approval, he remains on life support so that his organs may be donated this week, according to Brooks.
Brooks said the Lake County Sheriff’s Office, along with several other law enforcement agencies, will escort Steely and his family home to Lake County within the upcoming days.
Deputy Steely is survived by his wife, Lynda Steely; children, Alexsandria Calbreath, Braiden Wayment, Tori Wayment, Nia Steely and Ty Steely; brother, Caleb Steely and David Laird; sisters, Anna Mix, Leabeth York, Abigail Steely, Becky Steely and Deborah Langley; parents, Luke and Karen Steely; and grandmother, Marian Steely.
Cards and condolences will be accepted at the Lake County Sheriff’s Office at 1220 Martin St., Lakeport, CA 95453.
For those wanting to make a donation to assist the Steely family during this tragic time, a Go Fund Me account has been set up in Deputy Steely’s name at https://www.gofundme.com/29y4dxk4 , and a “Dep. Jake Steely Family” account has been opened at Mendo-Lake Credit Union in Lakeport.
Injured deputy declared brain dead; agencies plan escort home
- Lake County News reports
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