San Francisco shelter staff arrested for aiding suspect after police shooting
Two Bayshore Navigation Center employees were detained for allegedly helping a gunman evade police after he shot an officer near the Bay Bridge.
On the evening of May 31, San Francisco police attempted to stop a vehicle near the Bay Bridge; the driver ignored commands, led officers on a chase, and crashed into a concrete barrier. After exiting the car, the driver, identified as 36-year-old Norris Reed III, opened fire, wounding an officer in the leg. Reed escaped on foot but was arrested about two hours later at the Bayshore Navigation Center, a homeless shelter that serves up to 128 long-term guests.
Authorities claim that shelter employee Oliver Barcenas supplied Reed with new clothing to hide his identity, and that fellow employee Erika Porter gave false statements during the search. Reed now faces two counts of attempted murder and additional felony charges. The two shelter workers were arrested on Aug. 20, and Chief Derrick Lew praised the police and investigators for apprehending the suspect and holding the employees accountable.
Why it matters
The case raises concerns about safety and accountability at homeless shelters when staff allegedly assist violent suspects.
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