Deputy who supervised inmates at Lake County Jail dies of COVID-19, department says

LAKE COUNTY, Fla. — A Lake County deputy who supervised inmates at the Lake County Jail died of COVID-19 on Wednesday, exactly a month after testing positive for the virus, the sheriff’s office said.

Master Detention Deputy Richard “Rick” Barry, 58, would have celebrated 25 years with the Lake County Sheriff’s Office next month, public information officer Lt. John Herrell said in a statement.

“The Sheriff’s Office is grateful for his service and is praying for peace and comfort for Barry’s wife, Bria, who is also a detention deputy, their son, Brennan, and all who knew and loved him,” Herrell said in a statement.

READ: 111 inmates, 19 staff members test positive for COVID-19 in Lake County

Herrell said Barry worked in the extradition unit transporting inmates. But when transports paused due to COVID-19, he worked to supervise inmates within the jail.

The department said Barry tested positive for the virus on June 16 and had been isolating at home since then.

He is the second known Lake County deputy to die from the virus. Master Detention Deputy Lynn Jones died last month, a day before he would have worked for the Sheriff’s Office for 13 years, deputies said. Jones was also assigned to the jail.

READ: Lake County deputy dies after testing positive for COVID-19

As of the end of June, Lake County officials said 111 inmates and 19 staff members had tested positive for COVID-19.

As of Thursday officials provided the following numbers:

• 744 inmates are in the jail
• 131 inmates tested positive for COVID-19
• 28 employees have tested positive for COVID-19
• 2 nurses working in the medical unit have tested positive

Stay tuned to Channel 9 Eyewitness News for updates.

Video: 111 inmates, 19 staff members test positive for COVID-19 in Lake County Lake County officials said 111 inmates and 19 staff members have tested positive for COVID-19.

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