Man dies in police custody after being shot by Taser

Bay City News Service
Dec. 10, 2005

SONOMA - A 31-year-old man died in police custody after he struggled with police officers and was shot by a Taser, the Sonoma County Sheriff's Department said Wednesday morning.

Lt. Roger Rude said Michael Tolosko of Sonoma became unconscious and stopped breathing after deputies applied a "maximum restraint cord."

Officers began CPR and requested medical assistance and Tolosko was taken by ambulance to Sonoma Valley Hospital, where he was pronounced dead, Rude said.

He said Tolosko had a history of prior law enforcement contacts that included mental health issues.

Sonoma Police Department officers Patrick Sharp and Travis Koeppel went to Tolosko's home in the 600 block of Verano Avenue after the subject's mother called 9-1-1. The woman asked for help with her adult son who had stopped taking his medication, Rude said.

The officers heard a disturbance in the home that sounded like items being destroyed and had difficulty getting the home's occupants to come to the door, Rude said.

Sharp was attacked and injured by Tolosko in the garage, and the officers called for more officers while they struggled with Tolosko, Rude said.

The officers used a Taser and handcuffed Tolosko, but he continued to struggle, Rude said.

Sheriff's Deputies Ricky Bostic and James Mauro from the sheriff's department's Sonoma Valley substation helped subdue Tolosko with the restraint cord. Shortly after they gained control of Tolosko he became unconscious and stopped breathing, Rude said.