Man Dies While Detained By Sonoma County Sheriff's Deputies

SONOMA COUNTY, CA — A man in medical distress died shortly after being handcuffed by a Sonoma County sheriff's deputy Wednesday night near Petaluma, according to the sheriff's office. The deputy and a deputy-in-training responded to a 6:41 p.m. call from a man who said a possibly homeless man had been parked in an SUV on his neighbor's property for two days and refused to the leave, sheriff's officials said.

The deputy and deputy-in-training responded to the property in the area of Sonoma Mountain Road and Adobe Road and made contact with the man.

"The man was detained without incident when deputies spotted drug paraphernalia in the car," sheriff's officials said in a statement. "The man went limp, became unresponsive and appeared to be in medical distress."

The deputies reportedly called for an ambulance and administered Narcan — a powerful drug that quickly reverses the effect of opiate use — and then began life-saving efforts.

"Despite all efforts, the man died at the scene," officials said.

Under the countywide protocol for in-custody deaths, personnel with the Petaluma Police Department and Sonoma County District Attorney's Office responded to take over the investigation.

"The man’s identity is not being released at this time," sheriff's officials said. "All future press information will be released from the Petaluma Police Department."