Encinitas Councilmember Faces Assault, Hit-and-Run, and Threat Charges
ENCINITAS, Calif. โ- โค Encinitasโ Councilmember Luke Shaffer is facing โคcriminalโฃ charges including a felony assault and two โmisdemeanors, teh San Diego County District Attorney’s office announced today.
According to courtโฃ documents, shaffer is accusedโ of assault throughโ force likely to produce great bodily injury, and alsoโ involvement โin a hit-and-run collision.โข the complaintโค further alleges Shaffer “willfully made unlawful threats of retaliatory action againstโ members โof the public,including threats to deny or obstructโ lawful permits โor otherโ lawful entitlements.”
NBC 7 reached out to Shaffer for comment and โคis โฃawaiting a response.
The charges have prompted reaction from Encinitas residents. “Disappointing toโ hear something like that fromโข anโข elected official but โalso, with anything thatโ involves the courts and legal matters, you have to believe โin dueโ process,” โขsaid Zach Preobrazhensky, an Encinitas resident in Shaffer’s district.
“I’m just โkind of surprised, which I bet a lot of people โฃaround here probably are,” addedโ Gary Doherer, also a Districtโ 1 resident.
Another resident, Mary Griffy, stated,โข “If it is substantiated,โ you know, he should face consequences and consider resigning because that’s โnot what โคa leaderโ should be doing.”
Marcosโ Gonzalez, attorneyโฃ for the alleged victim, released โa statement to NBC 7, saying, in part, “My clients were shocked and appalled that a sitting councilman would behave in such a dangerous and immature mannerโฆ Theyโ believe he must be held accountable forโ his โขbehavior and that he is not fit to continue serving in office.”
NBC 7 also attempted to reachโ Encinitas Mayorโฃ Tony Kranz for โcomment, โฃbut was unsuccessful.
Shaffer’s arraignment is scheduled forโ September 9th. If convicted on all charges, โคhe โcould face โฃup to five-and-a-half years โin prison, according to the Districtโ Attorney’s office.