California carjack suspect who died in custody was in his own car, police say

SAN FRANCISCO (KTXL) -- A man who died last week after being shocked with a stun gun and put in a neck hold by Sonoma County sheriff's deputies who suspected him of carjacking actually owned the car that he had reported stolen days earlier, authorities said.

David Glen Ward, 52, of Petaluma, did not tell Sonoma County sheriff's deputies and police officers from the city of Sebastopol who pulled him over that he got the car back, said Lt. Dan Marincik of the Santa Rosa Police Department, which is investigating Ward's death.

A deputy tried to pull over Ward last Wednesday but he fled, setting off a pursuit, Marincik said. Two Sebastopol officers also responded, and two patrol cars boxed him in. Another deputy arrived, and the four ordered Ward to open the door. He wouldn't but eventually rolled down the window, Marincik said.

A deputy tried to remove Ward through the window. When shocking him with a stun gun didn't subdue him, another deputy used a hold where pressure is applied on the sides of the neck, cutting off blood flow to the brain and causing a temporary loss of consciousness, authorities said.

Shortly after an officer opened the passenger door and handcuffed Ward, he began having trouble breathing. An officer performed CPR, and Ward was rushed to a hospital, where he died, Marincik said.

Body camera video recorded the run-in, and authorities were working on releasing the footage. The sheriff's office also will investigate to determine if deputies followed policy, Marincik said.

Ward's half-sister, Catherine Aguilera said a neighbor told her the car had been stolen that day and Ward had gone to get it after someone told him where it was. He was likely heading home when police stopped him, she said.