Ex Sonoma County Deputy Pleads Not Guilty To Assault

SONOMA COUNTY, CA -- A former Sonoma County sheriff's deputy pleaded not guilty on Tuesday to assaulting a Sonoma Valley man during a domestic dispute call last year.

Scott Thorne, 40, allegedly used excessive force with his baton and Taser stun gun during the Sept. 24 incident at the man's Boyes Hot Springs residence.

According to the sheriff's office's account of the incident, Thorne forced open a locked bedroom door where the man was lying in bed and refused to come out. Thorne then grabbed the man's arm and shot him with the
Taser when he pulled away from him.

The Taser had little effect and Thorne struck the man with his baton. Thorne and Deputy Beau Zastrow tried to restrain the man and Deputy Anthony Diehm, who was talking to the man's wife, came to assist.

Thorne struck the man several times with his baton when he ran toward the bedroom door. The man fell to the ground and Diehm fired his Taser to no effect. During a struggle, the three deputies were able to restrain the man.

The man was taken to a hospital for treatment and then was booked into Sonoma County Jail on suspicion of battery on an officer, resisting and obstructing an officer and threatening an officer. He posted bail and was
released.

The Sonoma County District Attorney's Office reviewed the incident and said it would not file charges against the man. The sheriff's office did an internal review of the incident, including reviewing body camera video, and decided Thorne's actions violated the office's excessive use of force policy.

After the Sonoma County District Attorney's Office got a $10,000 warrant for Thorne's arrest, he turned himself in at the Sonoma County Jail, and prosecutors filed a felony charge of assault by a public officer.

Thorne's attorney Chris Andrian maintains the Boyes Hot Springs man was being uncooperative with the deputies, who were bound to fully investigate a report of domestic violence.

Thorne, who left the Sheriff's department last fall, has waived his right to a preliminary hearing. His trial, expected to last two or three weeks, is scheduled to begin June 30.

Bay City News contributed to this report/Image via Shutterstock