San Francisco police accused of ‘racial bias’ in arrest of armed suspect firing at them on bodycam

A gaggle of San Francisco law enforcement officials has been accused of “racial bias” in reference to the August 2022 arrest of a mentally in poor health man who pulled out a sensible prop gun and fired off a number of blanks, leading to a 53-minute standoff that ended with out anybody being harm.

Police obtained a report of a bicycle theft within the Mission District on Aug. 6, 2022. Two officers noticed Jose Corvera, 52, pushing a bicycle whereas using one other one within the space simply earlier than 8 a.m. The officers approached him for questioning, and Corvera ran behind a automobile and crouched down with what appeared like a functioning firearm. 

On Wednesday, the San Francisco Public Defender’s Workplace introduced a declare towards police underneath the California Racial Justice Act, alleging that police initiated the cease “for no obvious motive aside from his race.”

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San Francisco law enforcement officials investigating a stolen bicycle encountered Jose Corvera, then 51, with two bicycles and tried to query him, when he allegedly pulled out a blank-firing gun and crouched behind a automobile, kicking off a high-stress standoff that lasted almost an hour. (San Francisco Police Division)

“Corvera…was unjustly singled out by the police primarily based on racial serotypes linked to Latinx folks, poverty, and their rights to own private belongings,” the submitting alleges. “It was unfair and prejudicial to presume that his possession of two bicycles as a substitute of 1 have to be related to a prison act.”

WATCH: San Francisco Police bodycam exhibits man firing prop gun at officers

Corvera’s attorneys alleged a White individual with two bikes within the upscale Marina District “can be unlikely” to have been stopped.

Corvera went to trial on fees that included weapons possession, threatening officers and resisting arrest final month. After a hung jury, the choose declared a mistrial, in accordance with the general public defender’s workplace. He was not charged with stealing any bicycles.

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When Jose Corvera lastly dropped his weapon, police put him in handcuffs. Nobody was injured within the incident, wherein at the least 15 bullets have been fired. (San Francisco Police Division)

A choose is anticipated to rule on whether or not the declare can proceed after a listening to on Dec. 13, and if the declare succeeds, Corvera may see the preliminary fees dropped and keep away from a brand new trial. If he fails, new proceedings are scheduled to start on Dec. 29. He’s being held on $50,000 bond on the San Francisco County Jail.

Bodycam exhibits police repeatedly shouted at Corvera to drop the weapon and warned passersby to remain again.

Learn the courtroom submitting (Cell customers go right here)

“Drop that gun on the ground or you’ll be shot,” one officer shouts. “Put it on the ground!”

Corvera fired blanks over the course of the standoff, and at the least 17 officers responded to the state of affairs. 4 of them fired at the least 15 pictures, in accordance with courtroom paperwork. Nonetheless, they by no means struck Corvera, solely surrounding automobiles and buildings. In addition they referred to as in tactical models and disaster negotiators.

Throughout the standoff, officers crouched behind the ballistic defend may be heard telling one another the place they hold their tourniquets, in case of the “worst case situation.” 

When Corvera lastly tossed the gun away, it went off one final time. Officers rushed over and cuffed him, and paramedics rushed in, checking him for any accidents.

Responding officers took shelter behind their automobiles on a residential avenue after Jose Corvera, 52, allegedly crouched down behind a automobile and began firing blanks somewhat than reply questions from police. (San Francisco Police Division)

“Mr. Corvera was unjustly singled out by the police primarily based on racial stereotypes of Latinx folks, of the unhoused, and of their rights to own issues like bikes,” Deputy Public Defender Kathleen Natividad stated in an announcement Wednesday. “It’s extraordinarily unlikely police would have handled a white individual the identical manner.”

The 53-minute standoff concerned at the least 17 San Francisco law enforcement officials, two tactical automobiles and a disaster negotiator. (San Francisco Police Division)

Natividad alleged that responding officers unfairly assumed Corvera was a thief as a result of he was in possession of two bicycles once they encountered him. The general public defender’s workplace additionally accused the officers of making a public security hazard by opening hearth within the residential neighborhood.

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“It’s necessary to name out racial bias, and we urge the courtroom to grant Mr. Corvera the chance to make his case that race performed a task in how police reacted to him,” stated elected San Francisco Public Defender Mano Raju. “We additionally urge the District Lawyer’s Workplace to dismiss this case, because it’s clear jurors are prone to as soon as once more determine that the police’s actions have been racially motivated and improper.”

Metropolis police didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark. Longer parts of the bodycam video may be seen on the division’s Fb account.