New Details Outline Moments Before Police Shooting In Santa Rosa

SONOMA COUNTY, CA — New details are emerging about how a routine check turned into a fast-moving confrontation that ended in gunfire, leaving a 46-year-old man wounded and raising new questions about how the encounter with Santa Rosa police unfolded.

The Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office has released a detailed account from their investigation of the moments leading up to a police shooting that began with a routine call and escalated into a deadly-force encounter on a quiet Santa Rosa street.

The shooting happened around 11:16 a.m. in the 300 block of 10th Street, near the edge of a church parking lot at St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church.

The Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office identified the man as 46-year-old Eric Keith Brown of Santa Rosa and the officer as Santa Rosa Police Officer Taylor McDonagh, with six years of experience, including the San Mateo Police Department, Sgt. Juan Valencia said in a news release.

Dispatchers received the initial call at 10:52 a.m. March 12, reporting a man sleeping in a bag on the sidewalk outside St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church on 10th Street. McDonagh arrived at 11:16 a.m., in uniform and driving a marked patrol car.

McDonagh approached Brown and asked questions. Brown avoided answers and then walked away toward Washington Street. McDonagh followed and continued speaking as she called for backup.

Brown turned around and walked toward Officer McDonagh while she continued asking questions.

McDonagh told Brown not to come near her as she retreated to the street toward her patrol car. Officer McDonagh unholstered her taser, pointed it at Brown, and requested emergency backup.

Brown continued advancing toward McDonagh and yelled, “I’m trying to die.” McDonagh yelled, “Taser,” and Brown responded, “Tase me.”

McDonagh ordered Brown to get on the ground while deploying her taser twice, which did not stop him from advancing. Brown said, “I ain’t afraid of dying,” as he continued walking toward the officer and closing the distance.

McDonagh repeated commands for Brown to get on the ground and said, “Don’t make me do this,” as she kept retreating to increase distance from Brown. Brown said, “Shoot me, I can die right now." McDonagh drew her firearm.

Officer McDonagh continued to create distance from Brown by moving past her parked patrol car and onto the sidewalk. Brown followed, waving his arms.

On the sidewalk, Officer McDonagh backed away while repeatedly ordering Brown not to approach her.

Brown then began running at McDonagh with his right arm at waist level and his left arm raised toward his right shoulder. He yelled “Shoot me” multiple times while McDonagh ordered him to stop and not to approach.

When Brown continued to walk toward her, McDonagh turned away, creating more space between them. Brown refused to comply with Officer McDonagh's orders and pursued her, yelling, according to Sgt. Valencia.

Santa Rosa Police Department Officer Taylor McDonagh confronts Eric Keith Brown moments before a wellness check escalates into a shooting on Tenth Street in Santa Rosa.

McDonagh then fired two rounds at Brown, with one of the rounds striking him in the upper torso.

Paramedics transported Brown to a hospital, where he remains and is expected to survive.

Authorities cited Brown on suspicion of felony resisting arrest through threats or violence as the investigation continues, Sgt. Valencia said.

No other Santa Rosa officers were present at the time of the shooting. But a photojournalist was with her on a ride-along documenting the interaction, while a friend of Brown, Robert Lidden, also watched.

Lidden told The Press Democratthat Brown ran when the officer shot him, offering an account that differs in key moments from the official version.

A volunteer with the free Saturday breakfast program at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Santa Rosa told the Press Democrat that Brown was a regular, but had been banned for a period of time due to “rude comments.” The week before the shooting, Brown had been readmitted to the program after signing a document promising he would improve his behavior, the Press Democrat reported.

The Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office took over the investigation and is reviewing body-worn camera footage, dash camera video, surveillance recordings, and witness statements. The Santa Rosa Police Department will conduct a separate administrative review to determine whether McDonagh’s actions complied with department policy.

Under state transparency laws, including Senate Bill 1421 and Assembly Bill 748, the department plans to release body camera footage at a later date. McDonagh has been placed on paid administrative leave under standard protocol, Sgt. Valencia said.

RELATED: More Details In Police Shooting On Quiet Sonoma County Street