Sonoma County Jail inmate dies of injuries from 25-foot fall

<p>A Sonoma County Jail inmate died Thursday morning after falling head-first from a second-tier railing inside the facility three days after he was arrested on several local and out-of-state charges.</p><p>Michael Lee Molgard, 34, died of his injuries at Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital, said Sonoma County sheriff's officials, who also said he apparently took his own life.</p><p>Sheriff's Capt. Matt McCaffrey said the fall was about 25 feet.</p><p>Authorities said witnesses were consistent in reporting that Molgard was alone when he climbed onto a railing overlooking a lower tier of the jail module Wednesday afternoon, and that he appeared determined to end his life.</p><p>Jail medical staff and Santa Rosa firefighters treated him at the scene before he was taken to the hospital, where he died, sheriff's officials said.</p><p>Sheriff Bill Cogbill invoked the countywide Critical Incident Protocol, which outlines investigative procedures and is routine after in-custody deaths. The sheriff's Violent Crimes and Crime Scene investigation units are investigating the case in conjunction with the District Attorney's Office.</p><p>Molgard was wanted as a fugitive on a no-bail arrest warrant out of Arizona when he was in a car that was pulled over for a traffic violation in Rohnert Park on Sunday afternoon, Sgt. Tim Duke said in a written press release.</p><p>The sheriff's deputy who made the stop on Redwood Drive was trying to identify those inside when a passenger later identified as Molgard told the deputy he might be wanted on a warrant, authorities said.</p><p>Molgard then sprayed pepper spray into the deputy's face and ran from the vehicle, authorities said. The deputy, temporarily blinded, lost sight of him until witnessed pointed him toward the rear of the nearby Escape Paintball building, officials said.</p><p>Two deputies converged on Molgard hiding in a doorway near the rear loading dock, but he again ran, the sheriff's office said. A deputy fired a Taser, but it seemed to have no impact, authorities said.</p><p>Finally, Molgard stumbled and fell, allowing the deputies to arrest him. Authorities discovered that Molgard was wanted for violating parole in Arizona. He had no local address, McCaffrey said.</p><p>He was also arrested for suspected battery on a peace officer, possession of deceptive government identification, giving false identification to a peace officer, illegal possession of pepper spray and offensive use of pepper spray.</p><p>In addition, deputies found counterfeit bills and checks in the car, resulting in additional charges for Molgard and the arrest of a female passenger, Shannon Trezona, 26, of Arizona, McCaffrey said.</p><p>The driver of the car was not arrested, McCaffrey said.</p>