Arrestee Dies in Custody

A 51-year-old man Santa Barbara police took into custody earlier in the week for resisting arrest and assaulting a police officer was pronounced dead Friday night, four days after being placed on life support while being booked into the county jail. Police reported that Lawrence James Baumann resisted arrest at Alameda Park on March 23—the underlying charges for the initial arrest remain unspecified—with such vigor and violence that back-up was required to subdue him. According to a press release issued by the Sheriff’s Department, Baumann collapsed while being booked into the county jail and had to be put on life support. He was taken to Cottage Hospital; four days later Cottage Health officials removed him from the life-sustaining medical equipment. Official press statements are skimpy on many details, indicating that a full investigation into the causes and circumstances of Baumann’s death is now underway.