Rohnert Park Man Dies In Sonoma County Jail Booking Area: Police

SONOMA COUNTY, CA — A man arrested late Friday night by the Rohnert Park Department of Public Safety died as he was being booked into the main Sonoma County jail in Santa Rosa, according to the Santa Rosa Police Department and the Sonoma County Sheriff's Office.

The deceased man has been identified as 59-year-old Rohnert Park resident Douglas Thoreson, Sonoma County sheriff's Sgt. Juan Valencia told Patch.

Thoreson was brought to the jail at 11:53 p.m. Friday by a Rohnert Park DPS officer to be booked on suspicion of being under the influence of a controlled substance and violation of probation, SRPD Lt. Dan Marincik said.

While going through a pre-medical screening inside the jail's booking area, Thoreson experienced a medical emergency, Marincik said.

Jail personnel performed CPR and attempted other life-saving measures but Thoreson could not be revived, Marincik said.

Thoreson was pronounced deceased at 12:30 a.m. Saturday.

Under the county's law enforcement protocol for such deaths, Rohnert Park DPS appointed Santa Rosa PD as the lead investigative agency.

"Our deepest condolences go out to the decedent's family and friends," Marincik said. "The investigation is ongoing and is still in its preliminary stages. We will provide more information as soon as we are able to."

Marincik told Patch late Monday afternoon he did not yet have any updates to share in the investigation.

Sgt. Valencia of the sheriff's office said it usually takes a few weeks before autopsy results are ready.