For Immediate Release

Sergeant Anthony Prencipe

On September 12, 2020, at 2058 hours, the El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office was dispatched to a residence on Rainbow Ridge Road in Placerville to assist El Dorado County Fire with a combative patient.  When deputies arrived on scene they contacted medics and 49-year-old Odie Prettyman. Prettyman was in obvious medical and mental distress but refused to be transported by medics. 

Deputies attempted to get Prettyman to comply with medics.  Deputies told Prettyman that he was going to have to go to the hospital because of his medical and mental state.  Prettyman Picked up a silver metal pen, raised it and slashed toward the deputies.  Deputies grabbed Prettyman’s hand and removed the item.  At that time, Prettyman began to show signs of medical distress.  Deputies began to render aid and placed him onto the medic’s gurney.  Deputies assisted with CPR and medics transported Prettyman to Marshal Medical Center where he was pronounced deceased.  

The Sheriff’s Office initiated the critical incident protocol for this death investigation. This protocol activates a multi-agency investigative team comprised of the Sheriff’s Office, District Attorney, CHP, Placerville PD, and South Lake Tahoe PD. The goal is a complete and impartial investigation into the death.

Cause of death for Prettyman is under investigation by the Critical Incident Protocol team and by the El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office Coroner Unit. Next of kin notifications for Prettyman have been completed.