Former Sonoma County Deputy Faces Charges Over November 2019 Pursuit Death

Share with Friends

Former Sonoma County Sheriff’s Deputy Charles Blount is free on $50 thousand bail after turning himself in this past week on charges of felony involuntary manslaughter and assault. The charges were revealed on Friday after a Sonoma County judge unsealed a criminal indictment in the case.

The charges were brought by the Sonoma County District Attorney in the November 27, 2019 death of David Ward who was killed following a high speed car chase. Deputies believed Ward was driving a stolen car, which they later discovered was his own vehicle which he had recovered after reporting it stolen.

The county convened a secret criminal grand jury in the case, which is unusual, and the findings were released days after an arrest warrant was issued for Blount on November 2nd. The former deputy, who resigned almost a year ago after Sheriff Mark Essick announced he would pursue his firing, turned himself in at the jail and was released on bail.

Key to the case was body cam footage recorded by other deputies at the conclusion of the high speed chase, footage which showed Blount forcefully attempting to pull Ward out of his car after deputies ordered the man to open the door. The video showed Blount slamming Ward’s head against the vehicle, and applying a so called “sleeper hold” as another officer used a taser.

The 19 member grand jury seated in the case heard evidence from 14 witnesses, including 9 law enforcement officers. An investigation by the Marin County coroner ruled the death a homicide caused by injuries sustained by Ward at the hands of law enforcement. The attorney for Blount has claimed Ward died instead from an overdose of methamphetamine.

Arraignment in the case is set for November 12th.