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SLO police chief accused of dispersing misinformation

July 29, 2019

Skeeter Mangan

By KAREN VELIE

Attempts by San Luis Obispo city administrators to limit and manipulate information about the police chief’s failure to retain her firearm has led the family of the man who found the gun in a bathroom stall to accuse city officials of attempting to mislead the public. [Cal Coast Times]

At about noon on July 10, Chief Deanna Cantrell left her pistol in the bathroom of an El Pollo Loco restaurant. A short time later, Skeeter Mangan walked into the bathroom and discovered the loaded and unattended firearm.

Mangan put the gun in his pocket, left the restaurant, rode his moped scooter home, and put the firearm in a dresser drawer.

After spotting Mangan on the news on July 11, as the person suspected of having the chief’s gun, Mangan’s brother-in-law, Sean Greenwood, drove to Los Osos to ask Mangan about the firearm.

Mangan is painfully shy and often nonverbal, family members said. He does not own a cell phone, a computer or a car. At 30 years old, Mangan lives at his father’s home in Los Osos.

“My dear brother-in-law not only found a loaded and chambered Glock (a pistol with only one safety, on the trigger) in a public restroom, he removed it moments before a 10-year-old boy entered the room,” Greenwood said. “I asked my brother-in-law about what had happened, he explained to me he didn’t know what to do with the gun so he placed it in a drawer and contemplated how to find the owner.”

Greenwood then removed the bullets from the gun and drove Mangan to the sheriff’s substation on 10th Street in Los Osos to return the gun; but the station was unattended, Greenwood said. Greenwood then called the SLO Police Department and spoke with a dispatcher who sent officers to the substation to collect the firearm.

The officers collected the gun, thanked Greenwood and Mangan, and said they did not plan to charge Mangan based on Penal Code 485, Greenwood said.

According to Penal Code 485, a person is guilty of theft if they find property, and appropriate the property for their own use, “without first making reasonable and just efforts to find the owner and to restore the property to the owner.”

Shortly after Mangan returned the firearm, the city issued a press release that said he was a suspect in the theft of the chief’s firearm.

It was only after reading a Tribune article that claimed Greenwood turned his brother-in-law in, that Mangan’s family discovered the police department had asked the SLO County District Attorney’s Office to consider charging Mangan with possession of a stolen firearm.

“Little did Skeeter know, he would be ridiculed and labeled by media and some, to me, quite broken souls commenting about his appearance. When really, if you stop and think about it, he quite possibly saved a child’s life by removing the firearm,” Greenwood said.

In response to questions about the incident, both Cantrell and city attorney Christine Dietrick refused to answer any questions from reporters about the investigation into the lost gun.

“As noted in the press release regarding the incident involving the Chief’s gun, the City does not intend to issue any further statements regarding that matter,” Dietrick wrote in an email. “As it relates to any other matter that may be the subject of your request for comment below, the City will not discuss the details of any ongoing criminal investigation and cannot discuss any details of any matter involving minor children.”

However, after CalCoastNews reported allegations that the chief had failed to promptly inform area law enforcement about the lost gun, that the chief asked police department employee Christine Steeb to call her back on a non-recorded line, and that officers arrested a man misidentified as the person who took the gun, the chief sent a statement and a timeline to KSBY and KCOY.

In KSBY’s timeline, the news station falsely reported that detectives arrested Mangan, but later took the statement off their website.

“At the end of the day, someone whom we trust and allow to legally carry a firearm, negligently left one on top of a toilet paper dispenser, at a child’s eye level, in a public bathroom,” Greenwood said. “Now I truly feel sorry for this woman. I can not begin to imagine the feelings she must be going through. But can we maybe just work on these desperate, attention grabbing headlines, please!”


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I am a bit confused. Dear Little Skeeter (their words) is described as both; a simpleton shut in and a quick witted hero who should be thanked for his actions, not ridiculed for taking the gun home.


Derf derf..I am a victim …really….a hero…lawsuit.. Gimme a break.


No victims here—not for any of them. Ridicule all around I say.


-53

Folks, this is so simple to understand. Chief Cantrell leaves her handgun in the bathroom at Pollo Loco, exits the restaurant and enters target where she shops for about 25 minutes before she realizes she doesn’t have her gun in its holster. She runs out of Target back to Pollo Loco and discovers the gun is not there.

From that point on it’s all about damage control:


She has her detectives look for the gun without alerting other law enforcement agencies that the weapon is missing.


When they develop information about a possible suspect, who lives in the county jurisdiction, they notify the sheriff’s office to tell them they will be attempting to recover the gun. During this call the sheriff’s office asks if the gun has been entered into the system and if a BOL has been broadcast to other LE agencies. When SLOPD admits that neither of these things had been done the sheriff’s office requests they do both before going on an expedition in the county. The entry and BOL are made 7 hours after the gun goes missing. At this point the narrative changes to “my gun was stolen from the bathroom where I carelessly left it.


The police detectives then search a residence and don’t find the gun but they determine the occupants, who live in the sheriff’s jurisdiction, are unfit parents and take action against them. Again it’s about covering your tracks.


When the gun shows up in the hands of an adult, who from the sounds of it is a little “slow”, the narrative of “my gun was stolen” is put into full force. Why? Because the chief must appear to be the victim of theft rather than simply another incompetent public official. Take control of the narrative with the help of the media lapdogs. A lesbian progressive police chief is a rarity and she must be protected at all costs.


To further the narrative the chief issues a video “mea culpa” which leaves out some of the facts and the news paper praises her transparency in an editorial. Remember we must protect our lesbian progressive police chief no matter the cost.


What is that cost? Well we need a villain to prosecute for stealing the chief’s gun. So they file charges against the “one watt” who walked in and found it in the bathroom where the chief carelessly left it.


The city ought to be thanking their lucky stars a child didn’t find it and shoot themselves with it. Had that happened I can only imagine the lengths they would have gone to in order to protect their beloved police chief.


Maybe charge the child’s parents for negligent parenting because they didn’t inspect the bathroom before sending little Janie or Johnny in there?


My prediction is this story is not going away. If it can be proven she has lied about a material fact in this case she can never testify under oath (Brady v. Maryland) and it will be bye bye time for Deanna!


51

These are some of the issues I have with SLOPD Chief Cantrell’s response to the lost crazy chicken gun.


“Chief Cantrell says the call was dropped and she called back on her cell phone, but Cal Coast News asserts Cantrell used her cell so the call would not be recorded.”


So Chief Cantrell apparently called the SLOPD on the ‘land line’ of El Pollo Loco and the call was ‘dropped’.

So she called back on her personal cell phone? CCN stated that SLO police employee Christine Steeb called Cantrell back on HER personal cell phone because of issues with SLOPD’s phone system. How convenient. I bet if anybody had called the station in that time frame that they had found a gun the phone system would be working just fine.


“Officers say the home was filthy and the children were put in protective custody as a result.”


I presume that SLOPD have had sufficient training as how to identify a ‘messy house’ but lack training on how not to lose a loaded firearm in a public place. City Manager Johnson has ordered more training on how not to lose your firearm.


“She denies Cal Coast News’ report that a door was kicked in and the children were kept overnight at the police department.”


OK, then where were the children kept and are they still in CPS custody? You will never ever know due to strict confidentiality laws. And at least one parent was arrested and what is their fate?


“Chief Cantrell says there was a delay in issuing a “be on the lookout alert” to law enforcement, as stated in the article, because of a miscommunication. She also said it is NOT a requirement.”


No BOLO issued in a timely manner but don’t worry folks because it’s ‘not required’.


“Cantrell said she believes it’s a former police officer who “takes issue with her” who is questioning her actions that day.”


It’s always some former disgruntled employee making up stuff who has an axe to grind is as good excuse as any.


“As noted in the press release regarding the incident involving the Chief’s gun, the City does not intend to issue any further statements regarding that matter,” Dietrick wrote in an email. “As it relates to any other matter that may be the subject of your request for comment below, the City will not discuss the details of any ongoing criminal investigation and cannot discuss any details of any matter involving minor children.”


In other words as far as government is concerned the case is closed to the public and you will never hear anymore of substance including the outcome of the children, the parents arrest and the monetary payouts.


Also, wait a minute, there is someone at the door, oh crap it’s the SLOPD, Mayor Harmon must have ratted me out for being a ‘keyboard coward’. Gotta get to cleaning my house and fast!


87

From what I hear most of her department takes issue with her. If SLOPD didn’t pay so much more than other agencies a lot of their officers would have jumped ship to get away from her.


36

Glock 42. Hahahaha!!! That’s a kid’s gun. Weak.


-27

A Glock 42 is a “kids gun”? So what’s an adult gun, a howitzer? You put that gun in a kids hands it will kill just as easily as any “adult” gun on the market. Don’t try and be tough Kevin, ’cause you ain’t got a clue…


12

I believe the reason for the small gun was it was being used as a concealed carry. Unfortunately it was left unconcealed in a public restroom.


9

You’re probably right as a Glock 42 is a very popular “back-up” or “concealed carry” weapon. The article didn’t specify if the C.O.P. was on-duty, off-duty, or in or out of uniform.


2

And for what it’s worth, Glocks do not have safeties.


18

Yes they do, on the trigger


4

That’s not a safety.


5

Glock pistols are designed with three independent safety mechanisms to prevent accidental discharge. The system, designated “Safe Action” by Glock, consists of an external integrated trigger safety and two automatic internal safeties: a firing pin safety, and a drop safety.[54] The external safety is a small inner lever contained in the trigger. Pressing the lever activates the trigger bar and sheet metal connector. The firing pin safety is a solid hardened steel pin that, in the secured state, blocks the firing pin channel (disabling the firing pin in its longitudinal axis). It is pushed upward to release the firing pin for firing only when the trigger is actuated and the safety is pushed up through the backward movement of the trigger bar. The drop safety guides the trigger bar in a ramp that is released only when direct rearward pressure is applied to the trigger. The three safety mechanisms are automatically disengaged one after the other when the trigger is squeezed, and are automatically reactivated when the trigger is released.[17][55] This passive safety system omits the manipulation of traditional on-off levers, hammers, or other external safeties as found in many other handgun designs. The ability to fire immediately, without worrying about an external safety, is one feature Glock has stressed as an advantage when selling its guns, especially to police departments.[56]


In 2003, Glock announced the Internal Locking System (ILS) safety feature. The ILS is a manually activated lock located in the back of the pistol’s grip. It is cylindrical in design and, according to Glock, each key is unique. When activated, the lock causes a tab to protrude from the rear of the grip, giving both a visual and tactile indication as to whether the lock is engaged or not. When activated, the ILS renders the Glock unfireable, as well as making it impossible to disassemble. When disengaged, the ILS adds no further safety mechanisms to the Glock pistol. The ILS is available as an option on most Glock pistols. Glock pistols cannot be retrofitted to accommodate the ILS. The lock must be factory built in Austria and shipped as a special order.


1

Correct. Not that you want one anyway.


-11

With your attitude Kevin, more than a safety is needed, more like a confiscation should be demanded.


-7

They do have a safety. It’s part of the trigger mechanism.


0

Not true. Glocks do not have distinct safeties like say the M1911. An M1911 not only needs to be gripped correctly to shoot, it also has a distinct safety. Not so with Glocks. Glock triggers obviously need to be pulled for the piece to fire, but again, no distinct safety.


5

All guns in the hands of LEO’s have a safety mechanism, or are suppose to, and that’s the officer in possession of it. I know comin’ from an ex-convict that may sound a little self serving or based on prejudice so….

“Ok, Glocks have many internal safeties which are time tested and proven. Glocks, however rely on the most important safety of all…. The one between your ears.” RRoss – https://www.glockforum.com/threads/new-to-glocks-unsure-about-lack-of-a-safety.18084/


-4

Apparently the ruling body of SLO and Cantrell forgot the lesson of Watergate, the cover up is always worse than the crime. The whole lot of them should be fired, and personally sued into the ground by Mr. Mangan and the O’conner street family


62

I really think at this point the FBI needs to get involved to run a full investigation. The community deserves the truth.


I don’t respect or trust Chief Deanna Cantrell, her boss Derek Johnson, SLO City Attorney Christine Dietrick or SLO Mayor Heidi Harmon in the least. None of them have exhibited behavior that’s worthy of either respect/trust. Quite the opposite in fact.


Given the hole she is digging for herself and those around here, Cantrell, Johnson and Dietrick would be summarily canned in most real-world settings.


70

Folks,


Deanna Cantrell MUST go!


Our failed police chief, Deanna Cantrell, has consistently misrepresented the truth in this matter, and her claims of ‘full transparency’ bring George Orwell’s 1984 to mind. Ms. Cantrell is an embarrassment to our local law enforcement community, and she failed to put out a timely ‘Be on the lookout’ order once she abandoned her loaded service weapon.


This situation with Deanna cantrell misrepresenting the truth is part of a larger pattern of malfeasance and corruption in local SLO government. Under Heidi Harmon and the progressive city council, we have seen embarrassment after embarrassment in how the handle personal issues, and the corruption has reached a tipping point.


Our local city government, under Heidi Harmon, now has workers who violently attack members of the public, then go on paid leave after a guilty plea. We have a police chief who abandons her service weapon, then blames the man who safeguarded the weapon, while she lies about what really happened. We have a city manager, Derek Johnson, who is in the backpocket of the local progressives, doing their bidding instead of representing the local people. A mayor who bans statues to great men and accomplishment, even as she engages in racial, age and gender discrimination. Harmon and her whacky liberal ilk took drug dealer money to fund their reelection campaigns, then ruigged the marijauna retail store process in favor of their friends.


I could go on and on…


Get it? Something is stinking in San Luis Obispo, and our local government is at the center of a stunning lack of good judgement and good governance. We need to remove Heidi Harmon and the progressives from the body politic, and then start making changes in the leadership of upper management. People like Deanna Cantrell are clearly not fit to lead.


Speak truth to power.


32

I read in a previous CalCoast article and on the Tribune, that the Chief’s gun was a Glock 42.


Has anyone bothered to check to see if it is an approved firearm on the list from the Department of Justice?


21

The Glock 42 is not on the approved CA Roster of Certified Handguns available for purchase in the state: https://www.oag.ca.gov/firearms/certguns?make=Glock


I suspect there is a scummy work-around which allows law enforcement officers special privilege to get pretty much whatever they want. They’re special you know. I suspect Cantrell brought it with her from AZ or wherever she came from.


13

The list is not applicable to law enforcement. And no, it is not on the list.


8

It’s not. You can’t be bothered?


-16

Glock 42 is what you buy for your girlfriend to take to the beach. A pathetic choice for a police chief.


-15

Get a grip Kevin! You sound like the wannabe gangster tryin’ to impress your “crew” with your knowledge of “gats”. Or is it you’re just a sexist that doesn’t realize that just maybe the chiefs choice of a “roscoe” is due to two facts; 1) Her duties as C.O.P. are more administrative than policing and her choice of a “heater” is based partly on that, 2) She’s a women, probably one with small hands, and the Glock 42 is small frame “burner” that probably fits her hand quite well and she’s comfortable firing.

Why sexist? ’cause your use of “girlfriend” as an insult proves it!


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