Sonoma man shot by deputies had 'toxic' level of meth

<p>A Sonoma man shot by Sonoma County sheriff’s deputies outside his home Dec. 6 was on a high level of methamphetamine when he charged at deputies, toxicology reports show.</p><p>Craig Von Dohlen, 37, died after being shot 10 times. He was reported to be suicidal and had threatened to “blow” his father’s head off and shoot officers, according to police reports.</p><p>Von Dohlen’s family has not filed legal action against the Sheriff’s Department, but has hired a lawyer to review the case as information becomes available.</p><p>“They are extremely distraught at seeing their son shot,” said attorney Michael Fiumara. “There is every indication that something went awry and excessive force was used, but the family needs time to heal, first and foremost.”</p><p>At the time, family members said deputies shot Von Dohlen, then approached him as he lay on the ground and fired again. Investigators said he had reached for a loaded .22-caliber rifle while he was on the ground.</p><p>Deputies were summoned to the Sonoma home by his father, John Von Dohlen, who called 911 to report that his son was suicidal and threatening him, according to transcript excerpts of the call released by the Sheriff’s Department.</p><p>Von Dohlen was heard on the call threatening to shoot deputies when they arrived at the house, investigators said.</p><p>“I will shoot them right now. I’m not going back to prison, they will have to shoot me,” the man identified as Craig Von Dohlen said, according to the partial transcripts, although no record of a prison term has been confirmed.</p><p>“I’m not going to shoot myself, they’re going to have to kill me,” he was quoted as saying, and: “I’m not going to kill anybody, but I’m gonna shoot cops.”</p><p>Toxicology reports released Thursday indicate Von Dohlen was under the influence of a toxic dose of meth when he threatened his father and deputies.</p><p>Pathology experts at Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital said the 0.24 milligrams of methamphetamine per liter of blood in Von Dohlen’s body was a toxic amount, a level considered just below lethal. That finding means that Von Dohlen’s body had begun to metabolize the drugs when he went into a rage, an independent expert said.</p><p>Fiumara said the toxicology results were not conclusive and that if the family pursues legal action they will ask for a review. Before that happens, he said, Von Dohlen’s family needs counseling, particularly his teenage son, who is not attending school “while he gets his life back together.”</p><p>“The police did not clean up the mess well and the family found flesh and blood and bone when they were cleaning it up,” Fiumara said.</p><p>Santa Rosa Police Sgt. Lisa Banayat said the investigation is ongoing. Ballistics tests on Von Dohlen’s rifle have not been returned from the Department of Justice’s lab and detectives are still transcribing interviews, Banayat said.</p><p>The deputies involved, Kevin Mullnix, Ron Hansen, Elena Transue and Fletcher Skerritt, have returned to duty after a period of administrative leave, Sheriff’s Capt. Matt McCaffrey said.</p><p>You can reach Staff Writer Laura Norton at 521-5220</p><p>or laura.norton@pressdemocrat.com.</p>