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Pismo Beach police officer describes assault, wants justice

July 15, 2024

By KAREN VELIE

A violent burglar smashed a Pismo Beach police officer’s head into a wall causing disabling injuries and later also injured the police chief. Even so, the assailant is unlikely to spend more than six month in jail for his crimes.

Initially charged with seven crimes, San Luis Obispo County prosecutors offered to drop five counts against Shawn DeLaittre as part of a plea agreement that includes a one year jail sentence and three years felony probation. DeLaittre then pleaded guilty to battery on a police officer, taking a weapon from a police officer and burglary – a strike offense.

With Christmas around the corner, downtown bike patrol officer Erin Logoluso went into work early on Dec. 23, 2022 in an attempt to free up other officers during the holiday. When a call came in regarding a burglary at the SeaCrest Oceanfront Hotel, Logoluso headed to the hotel even though it was 12 minutes before her shift started.

During her investigation, Logoluso learned a burglar had broken into a guest’s room and stolen a laptop computer and a cell phone. The robber had also defecated on a towel and smeared feces in the area.

A hotel manager came to the room and asked Logoluso to assist with a man who was asking guests to hand their room keys at an outdoor dining area while claiming he was one of the hotel’s owners.

Logoluso recognized the 6 foot 5 inch tall DeLaittre as the suspect in a previous shoplifting incident. She also noted a heavy smell of feces and knew he was likely the burglar of the SeaCrest.

Concerned with the number of people in the dining area, Logoluso approached DeLaittre and touched the back of his arm. Delaittre forced the 5 foot 3 inches tall officer into a choke hold and then violently choked, punched and scratched feces into her face.

DeLaittre’s hand moved across the officer’s holster, but she had forgotten her gun at the department. He then pulled her over to the outside of the building where he bashed her head against the stucco wall.

Logoluso, a 12-year veteran officer, kicked Delaittre’s knee knocking him and herself to the ground. She then grabbed her Taser gun and searched for a permitted area to shoot. While on his stomach, DeLaittre attempted to take the Taser from Lagoluso. He pulled the Taser under his body while they both held on tightly to the weapon.

Police Chief Jeff Smith was on the beach with his family when he heard the ruckus.

“Erin, it is me Jeff,” Smith said before attempting to get control over one of DeLaittre’s arms.

A manager at the hotel also attempted to free Logoluso from the suspect’s grip.

Eventually. Logoluso gained control of the Taser which she used to subdue the suspect.

After backup arrived, it took multiple officers to get DeLaittre into cuffs and booked into the San Luis Obispo County Jail. Several hours later, DeLaittre bailed out of jail.

Because of her injuries, which include damage to her spine and brain, Logoluso is on disability retirement.

“I had been told I was suffering extended concussion symptoms, and this would resolve with time,” Logoluso wrote the San Luis Obispo County District Attorney’s Office. “In August, I had an evaluation with a neurosurgeon due to my prolonged symptoms. After reviewing an MRI of my brain, he advised me I have damage to the left temporal lobe of my brain.”

A year after the incident, Smith underwent surgery on his hand for an injury he suffered during the skirmish.

Even though SLO County Probation recommended DeLaittre receive a prison sentence of five years and four months, Deputy District Attorney Julie Antos recommended a year in jail as part of a plea agreement, a sentence Logoluso argues is not justice.

“Your mission statement claims to fairly and aggressively prosecute crime but that is far from what I have experienced,” Logoluso wrote in a formal complaint she sent District Attorney Dan Don on May 29. “I am in the process of asking the judge to throw out a plea deal that’s completely disrespectful in comparison to the injuries I sustained attempting to apprehend the defendant in this case.”

In support of Antos’ plea agreement, Dow notes that Logoluso violated policy when she forgot her gun. Dow also argues the incident could have been avoided if Logoluso had called for backup before engaging the suspect.

Logoluso believes if she had not forgotten her gun, she or a civilian could have been killed.

DeLaittre’s sentencing hearing is scheduled for July 24.

 


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It’s likely that Dan “MAGA” Dow considers Officer Logoluso to be a “DEI Hire” since that is the shameful party line these day. Had it been a white male officer who was assaulted by a minority perp, I guarantee that Dow’s sentencing recommendation would have been much harsher and there would have been no discussion about “violating policy” or any other sort of pathetic victim blaming.


3

He permanently injured her, but it’s her fault for putting herself in that situation and forgetting her gun? I wonder how he treats rapitst if that is his mentality? Dow is a joke, playing politics instead of enforcing the law. Why people keep voting for him is beyond me.


4

Instead of doing his job as DA, Dow sends out fundraising letters trying to pull in money for his re-election campaign. He’s a power hungry partisan masquerading as someone who cares about law and order. He does whatever will get him more political donations and rile up his base, instead of what justice demands.


4

Obviously this is the wrong D.A. to bring justice for women in this county. He has consistently shown his utter contempt for them, whether they be Law enforcement or not.


7

Is this the same Jeff Smith that as a Captain for SLOPD ordered officers to assault protestors June of 2020 on Santa Rosa Blvd? The same Jeff Smith who publicly denied the use of tear gas on peaceful protestors until January 2021?


1

The DA’s office is not the same office as it used to be. The attorneys do not feel they are on the same side as the police officers, but feel separate and “above” them.

That said Dan Dow has been a gutless hand wringer from the first day he took office.

In the Kristen Smart Case he wouldn’t file the case against Paul Flores because he was worried about his image if he lost.

The sheriff did an end run by having his detectives present the probable cause to a judge who agreed with them and then issued a Ramey warrant allowing the deputies to arrest Flores and forcing Dow to either file charges or explain why he didn’t have faith in the case. Dow had to be dragged along every step of the way. Of course when Flores was convicted Dow was happy to take a victory lap!


6

Um. A female officer decided to arrest a bizzare 6’5” felony suspect without backup? The gun is immaterial. This was a bad decision. He was not in the process of any violent act so there was no hurry. She got thrown around because she was not following procedure or logic. That said, the plea is odd.


-6

The officer’s actions and the actions of the suspect are two different issues. She may have made some poor choices, but those do not excuse any criminal actions by the defendant.


2

Traditionally D.A.’s throw the book at defendants who injure cops. For no other reason than the D.A’s Office works hand and hand with police officers on a daily basis to prosecute cases.


This incident sends a message to all law enforcement in the County that the D.A. does not have their backs, it effects morale and can lead to officers backing off on situations where they have to get physical with a suspect,


It also affects recruitment of officers which has become difficult because less people are willing to become cops. They will apply in counties where the D.A. respects them.


It is inexcusable for a police officer, particularly a 12 year veteran to go on duty without their gun and would subject the officer to discipline.


Here forgetting her gun probably saved the officer’s and possibly bystanders lives because of the likelihood that the suspect would taken the gun away from the officer and used it.


If true, Dow’s justification that the deal was made because Logoluso forgot her gun and should have called for backup is ridiculous.


The defendant’s conduct is what a jury would look to if the case went to trial not the officer’s lack of a weapon or backup. If she had waited for backup and someone was injured because of it she would have been ostracized for not taking action.


If she had her gun and shot the unarmed suspect they would have charged her with manslaughter.


This officer will likely suffer from her injuries for the rest of her life.


This case should have gone to trial and the maximum sentence imposed, The judge should reject the plea bargain and the D.A, should acknowledge he made a mistake.


Furthermore, where are the union or association presidents of the PD’s through out the county who should condemn the D.A.? And, unfortunately, would the deal have been made if the officer was male?


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