Sonoma County Deputies Investigated After Man Beaten During Domestic Incident

SONOMA VALLEY (CBS SF) -- An internal affairs investigation is underway into the actions of several Sonoma County sheriff's deputies during a recent domestic dispute call that led to a man being hospitalized after being struck with batons and Tasered.

The Sonoma County Sheriff's Office released a statement Thursday announcing the internal affairs investigation into the incident as well as a request for an independent criminal investigation.

The incident took place on the evening of Saturday, September 24, when three deputies responded to a call by neighbors about a loud domestic dispute at a Sonoma Valley home around 10:30 p.m.

Deputies arrived and began questioning the woman who answered the door before two deputies went to find her husband who had locked himself in a bedroom. One of the deputies forced open door when the husband refused to comply.

The deputy found the husband lying on a bed and ordered him to stand up, but the man refused. The deputy grabbed his arm and used his Taser after the man pulled away, but it had little effect.

When the man sat up and pulled the Taser wires out, the deputy struck the man in the leg with his baton. At this point, a second deputy came into the room and the two deputies tried to physically restrain the man on the bed.

The third deputy came into the room shortly thereafter to provide assistance, but the man broke free and ran towards the bedroom door. At that point, the first deputy who entered the room hit the man in the back several times with his baton. The man fell to the ground and the struggle continued.

At this point, the third deputy used his Taser, which was effective, and the deputies were able to subdue the man and place him in handcuffs.

During the subsequent questioning about the incident, the deputies determined that it had been a non-criminal domestic-related argument between the woman and her husband. The man was taken to a local hospital where he was treated for the injuries he sustained.

Early the following morning, the man was transported and booked into the Sonoma County Jail on charges of threatening an officer, resisting and obstructing an officer, and a battery on an officer. He was released on a $10,000 bail bond later that same morning.

On Tuesday, October 11th, the District Attorney's Office notified the Sheriff's Office that no criminal charges would be filed against the man. That decision prompted an internal review of the incident, which included reviewing the video from all three of the deputies' body-worn cameras.

After the review, Sheriff's Administration decided that the actions of the primary deputy were excessive under the circumstances and violated the department's use of force policy. The announcement stated that the deputy is no longer employed by the Sonoma County Sheriff's office.

After discovering the violation, the Sheriff's office immediately requested that the Santa Rosa Police Department conduct an independent criminal investigation into the deputy's action. The department is working with the District Attorney's Office as they conduct that investigation with the full cooperation of the Sheriff's office.

The announcement also noted that the Sheriff's office was continuing an internal investigation into the other two deputies involved and planned to take prompt action after the investigation is completed.