Full Notification

On October 7, 2014 at approximately 11:00 PM, a Correctional Deputy working at the North County Detention Facility (NCDF) in one of the housing units locked-down the dorm for the night. The Correctional Deputy completed the twice hourly rounds of the 61 inmates throughout the shift. Nothing unusual was reported.

Today, October 8, 2014 at 4:50 AM, as the Correctional Deputy was waking the dorm, an inmate alerted the Correctional Deputy when he noticed another inmate not stirring to the general lights, noise and announcements. The Correctional Deputy went to the man’s bunk and found him unresponsive.

The Correctional Deputy immediately called for medical emergency assistance. With help from a couple of inmates, the man was placed on the floor. The Correctional Deputy began CPR. Another Correctional Deputy, Correctional Sergeant and the Jail Nurse responded. They continued lifesaving efforts using an automated external defibrillator (AED) and administered oxygen until the Fire Personnel and Paramedics arrived and took over.

At 5:14 AM, the inmate was pronounced dead by medical personnel. He is identified as Diego Armando DePaz, 31 years old from Santa Rosa. DePaz was convicted of DUI, stemming from an arrest by Santa Rosa PD in October, 2013. He was sentenced on September 30, 2014.

DePaz surrendered himself at NCDF on October 6, 2014 at about 7:07 PM, to begin serving a 15-day sentence. He went through the standard medical and psychological intake screening without any concerns noted. There had been no behavioral or medical incidents while he was in custody. He was not assigned to any work crews.
All the other inmates in the housing unit were temporarily relocated to another dorm, pending the initial investigation.

Since DePaz was incarcerated at the time of his death, the Fatal Incident Protocol was invoked. That protocol requires that when a death occurs while in the custodial facilities of the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office, it is investigated by the Sheriff’s Office Violent Crimes Unit and the Sonoma County District Attorney’s Office.

Because the reason for DePaz’s death was not immediately obvious, Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office asked the Marin County Sheriff’s Office Coroner’s Unit to assume the investigation into the cause and manner of his death, to include autopsy, pathology, and any and all other forensic testing.

The Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office VCI Detectives are actively conducting their investigation in accordance with our policies and protocols. Any inquiries should be addressed to Investigations Bureau Lieutenant Carlos Basurto at 707-565-2185.

Case #141008-003

Prepared by Sergeant Cecile Focha
Media Relations/PIO