Man Dies In Custody After Pursuit In Sonoma County

SEBASTOPOL, CA — A man died following a pursuit and arrest for a possible, stolen-vehicle and car-jacking Wednesday morning in Sonoma County, according to officials.

The individual was pronounced dead at a local hospital after a confrontational arrest where the suspect was Tasered, placed in a carotid-restraint hold and handcuffed, the Sonoma County Sheriff's Office said.

Called at about 5:40 a.m. to a report of a suspected stolen vehicle and car-jacking at Frei and Guerneville roads, a deputy and two Sebastopol police officers spotted the car and tried pulling over the suspect on Bloomfield Road near Murray Road, authorities said.

"The driver initially pulled over, then sped away from the peace officers and started a pursuit," the department said.

A chase through west county, coupled with an unsuccessful "PIT" stop (a "pursuit intervention technique" involving an officer using a patrol car to abruptly turn a fleeing car sideways, causing the driver to lose control and stop) ended on dead-end Sutton Street in the Bloomfield area, officials said.

Deputies used patrol cars to box in the driver, who allegedly fought deputies as they attempted an arrest for purportedly driving a stolen car and evading peace officers, the agency said.

A Taser was used on the suspect, who reportedly continued to fight deputies, as they then used on the man a carotid-restraint hold, "a way of controlling a combative person by placing pressure on the carotid artery, which causes the person to lose consciousness," the department said.

After being handcuffed, the suspect suffered "a medical emergency," deputies undertook life-saving measures and he was subsequently taken to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead, officials said.

The Santa Rosa Police Department is investigating the incident and the Marin County Coroner’s Office is conducting the death investigation, authorities said, adding that the agency's "thoughts are with the man’s family during this difficult time."

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