Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: 05/07/03

Contact person(s):

Media Coordinator, Donna Edwards - 565-3099 Media Spokesperson, Chief Deputy Larry Scoufos Deputy District Attorney: Charles Arden and William J. Brockley

Santa Rosa, Sonoma County, California

NO EVIDENCE OF CRIMINAL WRONGDOING IN DEATHS

District Attorney Stephan Passalacqua announced that his office has completed investigations into the deaths of Patrick McLoughlin, who confronted Petaluma police officers on October 23, 2001 and Thomas John Connelly, who was incarcerated in the Sonoma County Main Adult Detention Facility at the time of his death on May 8, 2002. The investigations commenced after the county-wide Employee Involved Fatal Incident Protocol was invoked. The Sonoma County Sheriff assisted the D.A.’s office in the McLoughlin investigation and the Santa Rosa Police Department and Rohnert Park Department of Public Safety assisted in the Connelly investigation.

In the McLoughlin investigation, Petaluma police officers responded to a report of a residential burglary in progress when they observed Mcloughlin and Michael Wegner in the area. They matched descriptions of the burglary suspects. All competent and reliable evidence suggests that McLoughlin produced a 9mm semi-automatic handgun when confronted by officers at the intersection of Filippini Way and Crinella Drive. As Officers Miller and Neri were outside their patrol car, McLoughlin fired rounds from his weapon, striking Neri in the eye and nose with a bullet fragment that passed through the patrol car door. Thereafter, McLoughlin placed the barrel of his gun in his mouth and pulled the trigger. He died at the scene. The investigation concluded that Mr. McLoughlin died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound, and that no rounds were fired by Petaluma police officers. Deputy District Attorney Charles Arden reviewed this matter.

In the Connelly investigation, Mr. Connelly was arrested for public intoxication on May 4, 2002, and incarcerated in the Main Adult Detention Facility. During the booking process, he denied having been previously treated by a mental health professional, taking psychiatric medication, or having thoughts of suicide. On May 8th, he was found alone in his cell hanging from a bed sheet around his neck. The findings of this investigation revealed that there was no action or failure of action by Sheriff employees that either caused, or contributed to Mr. Connelly’s death. The investigation also concluded that there was no evidence that placed correctional staff on notice that Mr. Connelly intended to harm himself. Deputy District Attorney William J. Brockley reviewed this matter.

Mr. Passalacqua stated, “These cases are personal tragedies for everyone involved, as well as for their families.”