Riverside County, California Sheriff Department Deputy Sheriff Jay Youngblood was born in Fullerton, California and raised in Banning, California. As a child, he was active in many sports, including soccer, basketball and baseball. He also enjoyed hunting and fishing with his father and spending time at Lake Havasu with his family while visiting his grandparents. Youngblood was primarily raised alongside his younger sister by his father, and after remarrying, his stepmother. When he was young, Youngblod was a Boy Scout and Police Explorer with the Banning Police Department. Youngblood met his wife online in July of 2021 and they got married in September of 2023.
Youngblood wanted to gain some life experience before becoming a Law Enforcement Officer, so he joined the US Army in 2006. He served in the Army as a Sergeant in Iraq from 2007 to 2008 and was part of the humanitarian aid mission to Haiti in 2010. He also worked for the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department beginning in 2013 as a Deputy. His goal while in law enforcement was to become a K-9 officer. Youngblood served with the 209th Military Police Company, the 91st Military Police Company and the 491st Military Police Company. He loved being able to serve his country and community by helping others during their times of need. During his time of service, Youngblood received the following medals and ribbons: Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Armed Forces Service Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal with Campaign Star, Non-Commissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon, Army Service Ribbon, and Overseas Service Ribbon. He was also a DUI enforcement officer and received a MADD (Mother Against Drunk Driving) for numerous arrests for DUI and a perseverance award from the same organization.
In July of 2018, Youngblood was injured during an accident while training to be a motorcycle enforcement officer. While training on how to conduct traffic stops, the car sped away. He chased the car around the track, where there was a section that should’ve been closed off. Youngblood went down that section and was thrown over the handlebars of the motorcycle. He suffered a spinal burst fracture at the T4 level, fractured his T5 and T6 vertebrae, broke his right scapula and one of his right ribs. Youngblood spent two and a half months doing intense physical therapy in the local Southern California Hospital. Once he finished his therapy there, he spent two more months at Craig Hospital in Colorado doing more physical therapy. Here, he was able to use and adapt to a new life using a wheelchair.
Youngblood currently lives in Easley, South Carolina, where he still loves to hunt and fish, despite the challenge. He enjoys helping others in his community to find the joys of exploring the outdoors. He is the Vice President of Disabled Outdoorsmen South Carolina, a non-profit organization. Youngblood understands the difficulties of getting back to enjoying outdoor activities. He is excited to continue with Tunnel to Towers living in a barrier-free home in the future. Receiving this support from the Tunnel to Towers Foundation has been a huge stress relief for Youngblood, especially by providing a barrier-free smart home full of less obstacles. Finally, Riverside County, California Sheriff Department Deputy Sheriff Jay Youngblood would like people to know that no matter what cards life has dealt you or what you’re going through, life still goes on.
The Tunnel to Towers Foundation has provided Deputy Sheriff Youngblood with a mortgage-free smart home through the Smart Home Program.