Arrested La Jollan Dies in Redding

REDDING, Calif. — Shasta County sheriff’s deputies are investigating the case of a 24-year-old La Jolla man who died less than 30 minutes after his arrest.

Steven Harold Sundt was arrested in Shingletown at 8:30 p.m. Saturday on suspicion of disturbing the peace and trying to gain illegal entry. He died at the Redding Medical Center at 8:56 p.m.

Deputy Coroner Dave Ness said Sundt died of heart failure, but said toxicology reports not yet complete may tell more about the specific cause of death.

Sundt was arrested outside the home of Hiram and Opal Cundry, who were home when he drove into their driveway, said Detective Sgt. Terry Nielsen.

“He showed up, parked in the driveway, wouldn’t say why he was there, and was running around the yard and acting strange,” Nielsen said.

Nielsen said Sundt went into the house, but was escorted outside.

When taken to the County Jail in Redding, Sundt appeared to be under the influence of a drug, a sheriff’s news release said. A nurse examined him and told deputies to take him to the hospital. He died a short time later.