Two men were arrested after they allegedly attacked the security detail of San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie during a chaotic street confrontation near the edge of the Tenderloin on Thursday evening, leaving one police officer bleeding from the back of his head.
The mayor was not injured in the incident, which unfolded shortly before 6 pm near Cedar and Polk streets.
SUV blocked, confrontation begins
According to police and local reports, Lurie was travelling in a black sport utility vehicle with two officers assigned to his security detail, one driving and another seated with the mayor, when three people allegedly blocked the vehicle in the street.
Lurie stepped out of the SUV and asked the group to move. Initially, the individuals appeared to comply, but the situation quickly escalated.
One of the men began behaving erratically and “talking gibberish,” according to an officer at the scene. When the officer intervened and ordered the man to move along, the suspect first backed away before suddenly rushing toward him.
Officer injured during struggle
The officer attempted to restrain the man by grabbing his upper body, but both men fell to the ground during the struggle. The officer fell backward and struck his head on the pavement, leaving him panting and bleeding.
At the same time, the driver, also a police officer, was dealing with another man nearby. That officer did not appear to be seriously injured. The role of a third person mentioned by police remains unclear.
A short video circulating on social media shows the officer attempting to restrain the suspect before being pulled to the ground. Lurie can briefly be seen observing the altercation before walking away.
Suspects arrested after police response
Police quickly flooded the area after the confrontation. The suspected attacker was handcuffed at the scene and repeatedly shouted obscenities at officers while being arrested. A second suspect attempted to flee but was caught a short distance away.
More than a dozen officers surrounded the suspects as they lay in handcuffs on the street.
The San Francisco Police Department said officers responded to a call for backup around 5:38 pm and arrested two men in connection with the incident.
Injuries not life-threatening
Two officers assigned to the mayor’s security detail suffered injuries, though authorities said they were not life-threatening.
Louis Wong, president of the San Francisco Police Officers Association, praised the officers’ actions.
“We’re grateful the officers assigned to the mayor’s security detail acted swiftly and courageously to protect him in a dangerous and unpredictable situation,” Wong said.
He added that the department wished the injured officer a “full and speedy recovery” and commended the officers involved for their swift response.
Lurie later confirmed that the men had attempted to fight a police officer but declined to provide further details about the incident.
