Full Notification

The Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office is conducting an officer-involved critical incident for the Rohnert Park Department of Public Safety pursuant to county policy. This incident began at about 3:15 PM on Friday, May 12, 2017 when officers were dispatched to the Budget Inn in Rohnert Park. A security officer for the hotel called, asking for law enforcement assistance, reporting that a man was paranoid and acting strange.

Two Rohnert Park officers responded to the initial call and contacted the man, who was later identified as Branch Wroth, a 41-year-old man from Forestville. Wroth was in a hotel room and was acting strangely, giving the appearance of being under the influence of drugs. Wroth told officers that he had been poisoned with chemicals but he was unable to articulate how he was poisoned and who had poisoned him. Officers were able to get his name from him and confirmed that he had an outstanding warrant for his arrest.

Wroth was confused in thought and seemed disoriented. Officers attempted to talk to him in a very calm tone in order to deescalate the situation and get him into handcuffs. At one point Wroth agreed to be handcuffed. As the officers attempted to handcuff Wroth, Wroth pulled away and attempted to jump out of the hotel window. Officers prevented him from jumping out of the window by physically restraining him. A physical confrontation ensued and officers used a Taser unsuccessfully. During the course of the confrontation, officers were ultimately able to get Wroth into handcuffs. As soon as Wroth was subdued he became unresponsive.

Officers immediately began CPR. Rohnert Park is a Public Safety Department and medics had responded as this call developed. Medics were present just as Wroth went into distress. Attempts at resuscitation were unsuccessful and Wroth died at the scene.

The names of the involved officers are not being released at this time. They have been put on paid administrative leave as is standard for any officer-involved critical incident.

Our detectives have interviewed all witnesses and are still investigating the incident. We do not know how many times the Taser was applied to Wroth. The internal mechanism for the Taser will be reviewed as part of the investigation. The Rohnert Park officers were wearing body cameras and video footage of this incident exists. Wroth is scheduled for an autopsy tomorrow, as this has been delayed due to the Wroth’s family attorney who filed a court injunction on Monday, May 15, 2017. Autopsy results, including lab tests will not be available for several weeks.

Prepared by: Sgt. Spencer Crum