Former Sonoma County Jail Inmate's Death Investigated

SONOMA COUNTY, CA — The Sonoma County Sheriff's Office is investigating the death of a former county jail inmate because it appears he died from complications of an injury he suffered while in custody.

Michael Webber, 48, died July 18 at local hospital, where he was taken July 4 when a correctional deputy found him unresponsive and alone in his cell at the Main Adult Detention Facility in Santa Rosa.

Webber appeared to be suffering a seizure, sheriff's office Spokeswoman Misti Wood said.

"A judge released him from custody on his own recognizance on July 9," Wood said. "He remained in the hospital until he died on July 18 at approximately 10:20 a.m."

Webber was initially booked into the jail June 29 by the Santa Rosa Police Department on suspicion of violation of probation and vandalism.

The correctional deputy found Webber about 1:40 a.m. July 4 during routine rounds, Wood said. Webber was taken to the hospital at that time and admitted for treatment of a head injury, she said.

In a news release Monday, Wood said the Sheriff’s Office Violent Crimes Detectives and Coroner’s Office were investigating Webber’s death because "it appeared he died from complications from the injury he received while in jail."

"We send our condolences to Mr. Webber’s family and friends for their loss," Wood said.