Update: Identities of officers involved in Atascadero shooting released
Update posted Jan. 25, 4 p.m.
Officers placed on paid administrative leave
–The San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office is releasing new information regarding an officer-involved shooting which took place in the early morning hours Tuesday on southbound Highway 101 near the Santa Barbara Road exit in Atascadero.
The deputies involved in that incident are identified as Senior Deputy Greg Roach with approximately 11 years of law enforcement experience and Deputy Jonathan Calvert with almost 14 years of experience in law enforcement.
Per sheriff’s office policy, the deputies were placed on paid administrative leave as the sheriff’s office conducts its investigation into the incident. Once the criminal investigation is complete, the case will be submitted to the District Attorney’s Office for independent review. The investigation will include the criminal actions of the suspect as well as the actions of the deputies. The sheriff’s office professional standards unit also conducts an administrative review parallel to the criminal investigation, which is standard procedure.
Having awareness of how an incident like this can affect those involved, the sheriff mandates counseling for personnel directly involved and makes it available for all other staff on a voluntary basis.
The sheriff will make the determination of when the deputies will be returned to active duty status.
The investigation into this incident is continuing. At this time, no further information is available.
Josue Gallardo, photo from Facebook.
Update posted Jan. 24, 6 p.m.
Suspect identified
–The San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office is releasing new information regarding an officer-involved shooting which took place in the early morning hours Tuesday on southbound Highway 101 near the Santa Barbara Road exit in Atascadero.
The suspect is identified as 34-year-old Josue Gallardo, a transient from the Paso Robles area. Gallardo had a warrant out for his arrest for a domestic violence incident which took place on July 23, 2016. One of the deputies involved in today’s incident had taken the original domestic violence report and was familiar with the suspect and the suspect’s vehicle.
Original story posted Jan. 24, 8:15 a.m.
Suspect allegedly pulled gun on deputies after being pulled over
–An unidentified male suspect was shot and killed by deputies in Atascadero early Tuesday morning. The wanted suspect was pulled over by two deputies and was shot after pulling a gun on them during the traffic stop, according to a press release from the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office.
Early Tuesday morning at approximately 12:10 a.m., deputies initiated a traffic stop on a wanted suspect who was driving southbound on Highway 101. The suspect pulled his vehicle over to the side of the road near the Santa Barbara Road exit in Atascadero.
Two deputies approached the vehicle and made contact with the suspect. At that point, the suspect pulled a gun on the deputies. The deputies fired shots and then retreated. Backup units arrived on scene and the area was cleared. It was at that time, it was discovered the suspect was deceased.
The investigation continues. No further information is available at this time.
