Man Dies In Custody After Being Tasered, Santa Rosa Police Say

SANTA ROSA, CA — A man died shortly after he was handcuffed by Santa Rosa police officers early Thursday morning.

Officers initially responded around 1:15 a.m. Thursday to the area of Peach Court in South Santa Rosa, where a neighbor reported hearing several gunshots fired in the street, Santa Rosa police Capt. John Cregan said in a news release.

Police dispatchers then received numerous calls about a person with a gun.

Some callers reported the person — identified late Thursday by the Sonoma County Sheriff-Coroner's Office as Jordan Pas, a 40-year-old Santa Rosa resident — was firing a shotgun and described him as a Hispanic male wearing a black shirt.

Officers located a person who matched the description provided by multiple witnesses, Cregan said.

"The subject was now shirtless and sweating profusely in the cold of night," Cregan said. "The subject was walking in the street at the west end of Peach Court. The man was holding what appeared to be a large landscaping rock in his hand."

Officers tried to de-escalate the situation but when Pas did not comply, an officer used his Taser to subdue the man, police said.

As Pas fell to the ground he continued to resist but officers were able to place him in handcuffs and transfer him to his side, police said.

Shortly after Pas was placed in handcuffs he suffered a medical emergency, the captain said.

Officers began life-saving medical measures and requested the help of emergency medical personnel, police said.

Pas was taken to a local hospital where he was later pronounced dead.

Police said a rifle and evidence of gunshots and controlled substances were found in the area where Pas was taken into custody.

According to police, witnesses confirmed the person detained by officers was the same person seen with the rifle.

No residents were injured by gunshots and no officers discharged their duty weapons, police said.

The officers all had body-worn cameras and video evidence will be released, police said.

Under the Sonoma County Critical Incident Protocol, the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office and the Sonoma County District Attorney’s Office will conduct an independent investigation of the events leading up to the death.

The sheriff’s office was expected to release additional information about the fatal incident.

SRPD will release the names of the officers involved and will do a separate administrative review to determine whether the officers followed the proper procedures, Cregan said.

"We take every use of force very seriously, and our thoughts are with all those affected by this incident."