Councilman agrees to anger management, volunteer work after street squabble

An Encinitas councilman charged with assaulting a resident during a parking dispute is eligible for his criminal case to be dismissed if he follows the terms of a diversion agreement.

Luke Shaffer, 45, initially faced felony charges that included assault and hit-and-run for allegedly reversing his truck into the resident’s trash cans in July, damaging a trash bin and striking the resident’s hands.

Last month, a judge reduced the felony assault count to a misdemeanor and dismissed another charge related to allegations that he used his position on the council to threaten the resident.

The court on Monday allowed Shaffer to take part in a misdemeanor diversion program. His case could be dismissed if he meets certain terms over several months.

They include eight hours of anger management classes, 60 hours of volunteer work, remaining law abiding and continuing to comply with a criminal protective order against him.

“We’re pleased the court recognized what this case always was,” his attorney Isaac Blumberg said in a news release. “Councilman Shaffer looks forward to the case being fully dismissed and is grateful for the opportunity to return his full attention to serving the people of Encinitas without further distraction.”

According to testimony from a preliminary hearing last month, the dispute began after Shaffer moved the man’s trash bins in order to park his truck so he could go to the beach.

When the resident moved his bins back, Shaffer allegedly pushed a bin over, then threw trash into the man’s face. Shaffer then allegedly got into his truck and backed it into the bins.

Superior Court Judge Saba Sheibani reduced the assault count because she said the victim did not sustain significant injuries and said the misdemeanor count would achieve the same sentencing goals as a felony charge.

Shaffer was elected last fall to represent Encinitas’ council District 1.