Marin Cop Accused Of ‘Dumping’ Mentally Ill Homeless Man In SF

SAN FRANCISCO, CA — A Marin law enforcement agency is facing backlash after a video surfaced of an officer dropping off a man who appears to be mentally ill and homeless in San Francisco without providing him with resources, ABC 7 News reports.

In the video, the officer is seen in a clearly marked San Rafael Police Department car dropping off the man in San Francisco’s Richmond District at 14th Avenue and Lake Street, the report said. The video was taken by a neighborhood resident.

The officer is seen driving off after unloading the man’s belongings.

The San Rafael Police Department has apologized for the incident, but a San Francisco official told the television station it may pursue legal action against the North Bay city – or any other municipality that attempts similar measures.

San Francisco police and firefighters on the evening of July 30 responded to the area where the man was dropped man off about 45 minutes later, after the man reportedly started a fire and was throwing rocks and undressing himself, the report said.

Michele Sahl, a resident of the neighborhood where the man was dropped off, said the incident was concerning.

"It's really terrible because we shouldn't do that to another human being, number one, And why can't San Rafael take care of this?" Sahl told ABC 7.

"San Francisco tries to take care of its homeless people, not without challenges, but I'm very disappointed."

SRPD Lt. Scott Eberle told the television station it is not the city’s policy to transport homeless people with mental illness to other municipalities without providing resources.

In an apology on behalf of the SRPD, Eberle specifically acknowledged the San Francisco community and its first responders.

"We made a mistake," SRPD Lt. Scott Eberle told ABC 7.

"That is what we did, we dropped this subject off in San Francisco. That did cause resources that would not have been tied up in San Francisco."

"I want to extend our apologies not only to the San Francisco community, that neighborhood, but to the first responders who had to deal with this subject.”

Eberle told ABC 7 the man had been picked up earlier in the day at Northgate Mall on reports he was threatening a security guard, and that the man had asked the officer to drive him to San Francisco. He said a supervisor approved of the decision to transport the man to San Francisco.

Eberle declined to confirm whether either the officer or supervisor face disciplinary action.

"I cannot comment on ongoing personnel issues, but we are looking at this investigation and taking it very seriously," Eberle told ABC 7.

"And I want to reiterate that this does not reflect the usual actions of the San Rafael Police Department."

San Francisco City Attorney David Chiu said the case is under investigation.

"San Francisco is not a dumping ground," Chiu told the television station.

"It's disturbing to think that another jurisdiction would drop someone experiencing homelessness or mental health challenges in the middle of a residential neighborhood, with no services or resources around it. It doesn't make for a good outcome."

Chiu indicated the city may pursue legal action in a statement that appears to be directed at a wider audience.

"We will look to hold any jurisdiction accountable that's proven to engage in this behavior," he warned. "Any jurisdiction that is thinking about doing this needs to think twice."

Read more at ABC 7 News