Officials look into jail inmate's death

SAN RAFAEL — Hours after being jailed for a hit and run accident, a 45-year-old San Rafael man was found dead in his jail cell on Monday.

Now, authorities from multiple law enforcement agencies are examining different sides of the case in an effort to piece together a narrative that accounts for the final nine hours of Daymitreeus Sessoms’ life.

According to a release from the Marin County Sheriff’s Department, Sessoms was discovered unconscious in his jail cell at 11:55 a.m. Monday. When emergency resuscitation failed, Marin County jail officials called in San Rafael Fire Department paramedics, who pronounced Sessons dead at the scene.

Sessoms had been arrested in San Rafael that morning at 2;30 a.m. for driving under the influence, hit and run, and violation of probation.

Police say Sessoms had pulled into the parking lot of the Burger King at 969 East Francisco Blvd. in San Rafael, and drove through several parking spaces. At the same time, another driver drove into the parking lot and the two collided, causing minor damage.

“Both drivers got out of their cars and blamed one another for the collision,” said Margo Rohrbacher, public information officer for the San Rafael Police Department. “Sessoms drove away without providing the driver with information.”

The other driver called police with a description of Sessoms, his green Toyota Tacoma pickup truck and its license plate number. Within minutes police found the truck and Sessoms in the 1200 block of Fifth Avenue. After a poor showing on field sobriety tests, Sessoms was booked at the Marin County jail.

Despite Sessoms being arrested and booked by San Rafael police, officers with the Novato Police Department will lead the death investigation to avoid conflict of interest, according to Lt. Dave Jeffries of the Novato Police Department.

“Novato is not investigating any crime having to do with Sessoms’s arrest or custody,” Jeffries clarified.

Since the death occurred in the Marin County jail, arrangements have been made for the Sonoma County coroner to examine the cause of Sessoms’ death. At the same time, the Marin County Sheriff’s Department will be conducting an internal investigation as to whether all correct procedures were carried out.