The SLO police chief, her lost gun, and a conflux of failures

August 5, 2019

Chief Deanna Cantrell

By KAREN VELIE

For more than a year, Cheyne Orndoff has asked the county to correct an error that lists him as a convicted man on probation in a law enforcement database, when he was actually the victim of the crime.

Three weeks ago, that mistake, and the belief by police that the bearded Orndoff was the clean-shaven man who hours earlier picked up Police Chief Deanna Cantrell’s lost pistol, led to his arrest and his children’s placement in foster care.

Cantrell left her loaded Glock pistol on the toilet paper holder in the bathroom of an El Pollo Loco restaurant on July 10. The chief determined a clean-shaven man videotaped walking into the bathroom after her, had walked away with her gun. An officer then misidentified the suspect as Orndoff.

A July 10 photo of the man who picked up the chiefs gun, Skeeter Mangan

In an attempt to find her gun, Cantrell sent a group of detectives to Orndoff’s home. However, she didn’t list his O’Conner Way address in the police log or inform area law enforcement she had lost her gun.

The officers and detectives descended on Orndoff’s home, and asked his permission to search his house even though several officers noted he looked nothing like the suspect, he said.

Orndoff said no, and explained that he was not at the restaurant and he did not take the chief’s gun. Detectives Jason Dickle and Suzie Walsh declared because he was on probation they did not need a warrant for a search, Orndoff said.

Cheyne Orndoff on July 10

Orndoff told the officers he had documentation that he was not on probation in his car near where the officers were standing, he said.

“Jason Dickel said I was on probation and he did not need a warrant,” Orndoff said. “I told him I had court documents showing it was another family member who was on probation, but he did not want to see the documents. He said, ‘You have the gun and we are going in to get it.’”

After SLO police officers raided his home, they put his daughters, 7 and 9, in foster care, his 5-year-old dog Princess in the pound, and arrested him and his wife for child neglect because of a dirty house.

Princess

Two weeks after Dickel searched the home for the chief’s gun, Cantrell promoted him to sergeant.

The error that led to the search and arrest started in early 2017. Police officers arrested Cheyne Orndoff’s brother Cole Orndoff for drug related offenses and for impersonating Cheyne Orndoff. A few months later, Cole Orndoff pleaded no contest to five misdemeanors charges, including a count of impersonation.

Judge Craig van Rooyen sentenced Cole Orndoff to time served and three years informal probation, according to court records. Cole Orndoff’s informal probation did not include search terms.

In logging Cole Orndoff’s conviction and probation into the county criminal justice information system, it appears that either an employee of the superior court or of the district attorney’s office wrongly listed Cheyne Orndoff as the guilty party and not the victim.

In order to protect victims of crime, in 2008, the California Legislature passed Marsy’s Law. The law expanded the rights of victims “to be treated with fairness and respect for his or her privacy and dignity, and to be free from intimidation, harassment, and abuse, throughout the criminal or juvenile justice process.”

For more than two years, Cheyne Orndoff has been trailed by the false probation report. In mid-2018, he was working as a counselor at Templeton High School, but was terminated because of the misinformation in the county system, he said.

Cheyne Orndoff petitioned the court to correct the record to show he was the victim in the case and not on probation, but while the court has confirmed he is not on probation, he remains listed on the county criminal justice information system as on probation.

“I spoke with a DA employee three times asking her to correct the error,” Cheyne Orndoff said. “I couldn’t get it corrected. I keep documents in my car showing I am not on probation.”

Cheyne Orndoff’s graduation from Cal Poly

Cheyne Orndoff graduated summa cum laude from Cal Poly, with a degree in psychology, in March 2018. He then applied for employment to multiple public and private organizations, including county social services, but was rejected because of the probation error.

“I can’t get a job because of this bogus bench probation,” he said. “There are times, I just feel like giving up.”

In response to a CalCoastNews article about Cantrell’s efforts to keep the news of her lost gun quiet despite her false claim that she immediately reported the stolen gun to area law enforcement, city staff altered the dispatch log of the lost gun incident. In both renditions, however, the incident number remains the same.

A July 22 version of the July 10 dispatch log for the lost firearm lists Jason Dickel as the officer in charge, officers dispatched at 6:42 p.m., and the call closed at 12:19 a.m. the next day. A week later, City Attorney Christine Dietrick provided an altered lost gun report that lists Chris Chitty as the officer in charge, officers dispatched at 7:22 p.m., and the call closed at 8:25 p.m.

Dietrick said changes in the log, even weeks after the incident, are permitted.

“The public log is a living document, meaning that running it after the original is posted on our website could show changes in the clearance code, listed times, officers, etc. when the call is reopened,” Dietrick wrote in an email explaining the changes to the public document. “In other words, as I understand it, each run of the log yields a snapshot in time as it relates to a particular matter until such time as the particular incident is finally closed.”

In response to the CalCoastNews article which reported that Cheyne Orndoff was not on probation, the city said in a press release that he was on probation and the CalCoastNews article was inaccurate.

Jason Dickle and Chief Deanna Cantrell informing the council of Dickle’s promotion to sergeant

A reporter responded by emailing documentation that Cheyne Orndoff was the victim in the case and not on probation to Cantrell, Dietrick and the district attorney’s office.

Shortly afterwards, Dietrick responded by contacting the Tribune, which wrote an article supporting the chief’s claim that her officers had “a good reason to enter the property without a warrant” even though Cheyne Orndoff was not on probation.

In support of moving ahead with criminal actions against Cheyne Orndoff, Dietrick said that the inaccurate county computer-generated report provides justification for the warrantless search and the use of evidence found in the home to attain a conviction for child neglect.

“Based on all facts currently available to us, the city believes that the detectives involved acted appropriately and in reasonable, good faith reliance on the official information available to them at the time,” Dietrick said. “We remain grateful that they were able to secure the safety and well-being of the children involved.”

In a series of hearings scheduled this month, attorneys are expected to argue whether or not the officers violated Cheyne Orndoff’s civil rights when they raided his home based on an inaccurate county report. In an attempt to raise money for his defense and for work needed at his home, Cheyne Orndoff recently posted a plea for assistance on GoFundMe.

 


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That’s Dickle? Cops, especially non-balding younger cops, who shave their heads … bad sign, I began to suspect it about 15 years ago when I first noticed the trend, especially among big city cops running in ruthless packs and literally getting away with murder in assorted So Cal towns. I like a cop with hair if he’s got it, not afraid to have it pulled by bad guys or gals resisting arrest. Otherwise, that shaved head indicates that it’s just another gang-banger in an official uniform instead of a hoodie and droopy-butt pants.


I wish the Moderator would offer a “golden buzzer” like AGT or a golden up arrow that gave a bulk five or ten up votes with one click. I’d use it for this FinfreAK post. What a scorching but accurate comment.


Complacency and fear, these are the root causes of this kind of crappola! Denial empowers it and fuels it! Both of which we are all guilty of!

Snoid exemplifies the fear… “Im guessin people are afraid to do so for the reason of being targeted or just plain beat down by these back wood chumps who call themselves public servants.” Perfectly stated to show the fear based society we’ve become!

“Home of the Brave”? My ass! Look to Hong Cong to see “BRAVE” in action! These people under an authoritarian government (China) known to outright kill those who oppose them are marchin’ in the streets by the millions, and, many are bein’ killed!

In a week or two y’all will forget about this, just like the mass shootings are forgotten, as you get back to your daily lives of non-activism, throwin’ up your hands and thinkin’ “Oh Well! That’s just the way it is!”, while bowin’ down to the failed notion of a nation based on the rule of law that is supposed to be blind to class, race, gender and nationality.

Admit it! This is just a momentary thing for you to bitch, bitch, bitch about. But as you do? Remember it ain’t that far from knockin’ on your fuckin’ door!


Expectancy. I speculate the PD had an Expectancy of the gun being at

Orndoff’s home collaborated by bum electronic dope and tip. Expectancy errors can by latent, but this one appears an active error provoked by a latent record(s) error. Since the O’Connor Way event was more of a confrontation versus a pursuit, using a basic human performance tool like “Tailboards” would have had all officers on the same page. Questioning Attitude and Stop When Unsure/2 Minute Rule could have also been employed. Big questions on the chain of command here. Another speculation would be a shift supervisor or higher would usually make that level of a decision to forge ahead into the house. Otherwise, was someone on an upgrade making that decision and then what transpired in the chain of command as Child Services were summoned?

So, there will action plans for the error rate on the probation records, audit freq, jurisdiction protocol, warrant training and investigation into tip. What vintage is dispatch logging software and does it have a change log? Why aren’t archived Police logs shown on their website? That’s only a 5 finger list to get it started.


Everybody needs to tell 3 friends ( or more) and tell them to tell 3 friends or more and hopefully the word will get out about this absolutely horrible story.

This story is real. it is sickening to think this is happening in our own backyard

Time is not on this family’s side. they need money to survive, especially now that their names have been released by the SLOPD chief, and the county government news letter, The Tribune,

Who thinks that the SLOPD chief, has NOT violated the children’s right to anonymity by releasing their parents names. hmmm i guess this is just another failure to understand protocol.

To the chief – YOU DON’T RELEASE ANYBODY;S NAMES ON AN ONGOING INVESTIGATION OR CASE ESPECIALLY WHERE THERE ARE CHILDREN INVOLVED IN ORDER TO PROTECT THE CHILDREN’S IDENTITY!. now look what you did, Time to change logs, or reports, or articles or whatever you do to CYA AGAIN! More civil rights violated. geeezz have you no shame?

Someone talked about, public outcry, i think that is a good idea,

All of this makes me sick, i don’t feel safe in SLO anymore, SLOPD is not to be trusted to keep us safe and the mayor does not have our best interest in mind.

When is the next SLO election? I hope you keep that in mind Heidi. this story is not going away.


Folks,


I think it’s becoming clear that Deanna cantrell is the source of all of this chaos and corruption, and SLO Mayor Heidi Harmon is shameful in her silence as a private citizen, Cheyne Orndoff, had his civil liberties violated. The 4th amendment is still in force.


Shame on the whacky SLO Progressives, and they have been silent on this whole sordid affair as members of their own group so visibly show their true colors. The hypocrisy of the progressive crowd is astounding, and shame on Harmon & Co. for not disciplining the police chief.


Shame on Heidi Harmon, a true hypocrite.


Speak truth to power.


The 4th Amendment is still in force? Where?! Not in SLO, and not for the rest of the country either!

Use to be a warrant had to be backed by probable cause, meaning “that someone is, or have been or plan to be, involved in criminal actions backed by facts”, that ain’t the case anymore! Now all that is needed is a “strong suspicion”.

The most blatant attack on our 4th Amendment Rights is the implantation and use of the National Security Letter (“NSL” – 18 U.S.C. § 2709) that was expanded by the Patriot Act. These “letters” were served on communication services and ISP’s allowing “… the FBI to secretly demand data about ordinary American citizens’ private communications and Internet activity without any meaningful oversight or prior judicial review. Recipients of NSLs are subject to a gag order that forbids them from ever revealing the letters’ existence to their coworkers to their friends or even to their family members much less the public.”

Then there’s “Prism”, the NSA’s prized baby! “The NSA collects the phone data in broad swaths, because collecting it (in) a narrow fashion would make it harder to identify terrorism-related communications. The information collected lets the government, over time, make connections about terrorist activities.” – James Clapper, Director of National Intelligence.

SLO is directly linked to all of this with the “tapped fiber optics cable landing spot” in Morro Bay (actually Montana De Oro) and ends up on Los Osos Valley Road at AT&T’s building. (a big tan windowless building surrounded by a barbed wire topped chain linked fence).

All of this happened under a Republican administration and with bipartisan support, so to only call out the “progressives” is pure unadulterated bullshit! I’ll bet dollars to peanuts the SLO Republican’s didn’t raise one bitch about any of this, right?

You sound like a version of a SLO Kellyanne Conway…


““Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety.” – Benjamin Franklin


Stop politicizing this tragedy. She is under command of the sherriff and DA, they are not progressive. Stop trolling and ego inflating, this is about bad cops not politics, you are pretty heartless to do that; for the families sake MJD. Stop. You think the mayor is the Sherriff or DA; are you insane or ignorant or both. Yeah; agreed to, the Mayor sucks and is part of the cover up.


The cover up is always worse than the crime.


Next step is to over charge the couple, perhaps 3-4 felonies. Let them plea down later for a promise to not sue the city and maybe if well behaved they can have the kids back in a few years.


Heide Harmon show some leadership, this is your watch unless you just let the PD chief and city attorney walk all over your term as mayor and let you take the blame.


Boy oh boy! This whole thing is really starting to smell. To Chief Cantrell, do the honorable thing and resign.


Hey rank-and-file, and the police officers union, how about a “ no confidence” vote..


Hey all, including City Council, do the right thing, soon. This will not go away on its own. This episode is going to be “60 Minutes” material if you don’t take action.


Just this morning I was telling a friend that this saga would be PERFECT for 60 Minutes! I think I’ll email this to them tomorrow….


This thing has run its course. Aside from a bunch of unimportant citizens, no one cares.


The chief did nothing wrong. Her gun was stolen from the toilet paper dispenser. She had no control over that.


The detectives did nothing wrong….the guy whose house was messy deserved the welfare check by Dickel and the crew. Sure, there was a misunderstanding about the “warrant” but who cares? The house was messy and he had the gun. Ditto the beard. Orndorff could have grown it for a disguise so no one would know he stole the gun.


The kids are no doubt super happy about getting out of the messy house. They sure don’t mind the vacation….and what kid isn’t thrilled about being taken away from their parents, home and pets and put into foster care?


Skeeter? He’s lucky he didn’t go to jail! It’s a felony to store a firearm unsafely and there is no government approved gun safe at his house. He’s lucky the chief is forgiving…..


So except for a few citizens/taxpayers, no one is the least bit bothered by these events. And who cares about the citizens? All the criminals come from that bunch….the citizens. Cops are tasked with policing the citizens and how can they do that if they don’t get out there and search our homes for guns? It’s best if cops don’t like the citizens, otherwise they might attribute human qualities to or personify the citizens, which makes it tougher to take citizen’s kids and arrest people on false pretenses. Cops are people with feelings too! If they show understanding, empathy, patience or common sense their policing prowess will drop off. They must keep the citizen’s at arm’s length and learn to see them as a source of revenue, NOT AS PEOPLE.


Let’s just move on. Another outrageous thing will happen soon enough and we can fixate on that. In the meantime, let’s all worship cops and thank them for their service. It’s not like we can do anything about it.


Those who support Chief Cantrell cite her humaneness and decency. Neither of those qualities is shown in this case where her own stupidity is used as an excuse to persecute others. We’re learning a lot we didn’t know about our chief.


Also interesting, why are city police going to a house on O’Connor Way, which isn’t in the city? That’s outside their jurisdiction. Oh, don’t worry, the city attorney will surely have some excuse why that was OK.


At one point we were told only a Probation Officer can perform a probation search, with other officers standing by, if so, who was the Probation Officer who performed this search? None has been mentioned in the records so far. If this is true I’m sure by next week the record will all of a sudden have the officers name. Isn’t Chief Cantrells form of transparency interesting? She may have claimed to be transparent she just did say when that transparency will happen, maybe on the fourth, five and sixth version of the report.