Inmate Dies In Sonoma County Jail Cell: Sheriff's Office

SONOMA COUNTY, CA — An inmate who died Wednesday night at a Sonoma County jail had been declared mentally incompetent June 7 by a judge and the inmate's family had secured a restraining order against him, according to the Sonoma County Sheriff's Office. Nino Bosco, 30, of Santa Rosa was in custody since June 2 and was accused of violating a court order, sheriff's officials said in providing more information about the in-custody death.

Sheriff's officials said no foul play was suspected in the death and that Bosco "appears to have died after eating a sandwich."

Sheriff's spokesman Sgt. Spencer Crum said Friday that correctional deputies found Bosco unresponsive at 10:02 p.m. Wednesday in his cell in the sheriff’s mental health unit. Deputies gave Bosco CPR until paramedics arrived at 10:10 p.m. and continued the efforts to resuscitate him, Crum said.

At 10:30 p.m., paramedics took Bosco to Sutter Santa Rosa Regional Hospital and he arrived at 10:36 p.m.; he died at the hospital and was pronounced dead at 10:48 p.m. Wednesday, Crum said.

Detectives were still trying to determine whether the death was accidental or Bosco somehow intentionally suffocated himself while eating the sandwich.

In the hours leading up to his death, Bosco reportedly ate bits of cellophane, a paper cup and a cardboard milk container, and was taken to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital for treatment. When Bosco returned to the jail, he was given a sandwich, according to Crum.

"We extend our sincere condolences to [Bosco's family] and his friends," sheriff's officials said.

The sheriff's office operates the county's two jails: the Main Adult Detention Facility at 2777 Ventura Blvd. in Santa Rosa and the North County Detention Facility at 2252 Ordinance Road in Santa Rosa.

Prior to Bosco's death, correctional deputies were working with him and trying to restore him to legal competence, sheriff's officials said.

—Bay City News Service contributed to this report.