NewsCrime

Former Sonoma County Sheriff deputy faces involuntary manslaughter charge

Sonoma County Sheriff Department
Add KERO as a Google Preferred Source

A former Sonoma County Sheriff deputy who slammed a suspect's head into a car door frame and put him in a neck hold last year turned himself in this week.

According to the Associated Press, Charles Blount has been arrested on suspicion of involuntary manslaughter. After turning himself in he was released on bond.

Last November near Bloomfield authorities chased 52-year-old David Ward in a reported stolen car not knowing that he was the victim and had retrieved the car. During a struggle, Ward stopped breathing and died at a hospital.

Blount resigned in February.

Bakersfield, CA

Weather

Daily Forecast

View Hourly Forecast

Day

Conditions

HI / LO

Precip

ThursdayThu

11/05/2026

Clear

-° / 50°

6%

FridayFri

11/06/2026

Clear

73° / 50°

3%

SaturdaySat

11/07/2026

Mostly Clear

80° / 51°

1%

SundaySun

11/08/2026

Mostly Clear

76° / 51°

1%

MondayMon

11/09/2026

Partly Cloudy

74° / 52°

3%

TuesdayTue

11/10/2026

Clear

73° / 50°

2%

WednesdayWed

11/11/2026

Mostly Clear

78° / 55°

3%

ThursdayThu

11/12/2026

Partly Cloudy

76° / 54°

11%