SLO County sheriff’s deputy wasn’t placed on leave after shooting Atascadero man’s dog
The San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office identified the deputy who shot an Atascadero man’s dog while investigating a suspected burglary and said he was not placed on administrative leave after the incident.
Deputies Marc Carreiro and Jacob Henry were on patrol in Atascadero about 11:30 p.m. on June 15 when they observed what they believed was a burglary taking place at Fashion Dry Cleaning & Laundry at 7800 El Camino Real, according to a Sheriff’s Office news release.
Junior Gonzales, whose family owns the business, told The Tribune he was returning from a trip and was unloading his vehicle when deputies pulled into the driveway. Gonzales lives in an apartment on the property with his wife.
When Gonzales’ two pit bulls ran out barking, the Sheriff’s Office said Carreiro was afraid he was about to be attacked and fired three shots.
One the dogs, named Roxi, was hit in three places but survived.
Following the shooting, neither Carreiro, who’s been a deputy since 2012, nor Henry, who’s been a deputy since 2019, were not placed on leave, said Tony Cipolla, a Sheriff’s Office spokesman.
“Deputies are placed on administrative leave usually for two reasons: When there is a viable allegation of serious misconduct or when there is an officer-involved shooting of a person,” Cipolla said in an email.
The Sheriff’s Office doesn’t have any policies regarding interactions with animals, Cipolla said.
“Deputies do receive instruction in that area during their field training program,” Cipolla said. “The Sheriff’s Office always strives to provide the best instruction and training to deputies, and we are currently working on a formalized training dealing with aggressive animals.”
When asked about the instruction deputies currently receive, Cipolla said they’re “taught to use the same common sense, best judgment, and threat assessment tools they bring to any potentially dangerous situation they encounter.”
Why were sheriff’s deputies patrolling Atascadero?
Gonzales and his wife, Alexandria Panos, were shaken by the incident and are considering legal action against the Sheriff’s Office.
Panos drove home in a separate vehicle and arrived back at the business after the after the shooting. After she showed up, Atascadero police put her in handcuffs, claiming she was not following orders.
“Ms. Panos was briefly detained after our officers arrived at the scene of the incident,” said Terrie Banish, deputy city manager. “This was a result of her initial refusal to follow the directions of the officers who responded to assist the Sheriff’s (Office). She was immediately released once the situation was brought under control and our personnel were made aware of the nature of the incident.”
“Atascadero police officers explained the reason for her detention to Ms. Panos at the time of the incident,” Banish added. “Atascadero police officers then assisted Ms. Panos by driving her and the injured animal to the pet hospital for treatment.”
Sheriff’s deputies are typically responsible for investigating incidents in unincorporated areas of the county that don’t have their own police departments.
When asked why Carreiro and Henry were patrolling Atascadero — an incorporated city with its own police force — both the Sheriff’s Office and city law enforcement officials said that’s not an unusual occurrence.
“All cities are within the County of San Luis Obispo, which is the jurisdiction of the Sheriff’s Office,” Cipolla said. “Having said that, sheriff’s deputies do not routinely patrol cities unless requested by the agency of jurisdiction. For example, when there is high call volume or staffing shortages. It is not uncommon for deputies to be in cities to purchase a meal on break or while traveling from one unincorporated area to another.”
Atascadero Police Chief Jerel Haley said his agency relies on the Sheriff’s Office, the Paso Robles Police Department and the CHP to help assist with emergencies due to staffing levels.
“We have not requested extra patrols from the Sheriff’s (Office),” Halley said in an email. “However, there can be a myriad of other reasons why other law enforcement officials might be in town. If they happen to observe criminal activity while they are here, I appreciate and welcome their assistance in taking enforcement.”
Second dog shot by police in last year
The Atascadero shooting marks the second time in nine months that local law enforcement officers have shot a dog while investigating potential burglaries in the county.
In both cases, residents hadn’t called for help and weren’t aware police would be showing up at their homes.
In September 2019, a San Luis Obispo police officer responding to reports of a break-in shot a couple’s pit bull, which later died from its wounds.
The officer was placed on administrative leave, and the couple filed a government claim against the city for damages. They’re also calling for the officer to be fired.
