San Francisco Cop Convicted of Assaulting Homeless Man in Hospital
A San Francisco Sheriff’s deputy was convicted of assault on Tuesday in connection with a 2014 incident where the officer choked and beat a cane-using homeless man, Reuters reports.
“No one is above the law, most of all those who enforce it,” said District Attorney George Gascón in a statement. “What is even more troubling is that this occurred at a hospital.”
Prosecutors say 34-year-old Michael Robert Lewelling now faces up to three years in prison for attacking 59-year-old Fernando Guanill at San Francisco General Hospital in November of last year. From SF Gate:
Lewelling was assigned to the sheriff’s patrol unit at the hospital when 59-year-old Fernando Guanill arrived early for an appointment regarding knee replacement surgery, and fell asleep.
Lewelling filed a report saying that when he asked him to leave, Guanill tried to attack him with his wooden cane and threatened to hurt him if he touched him. Guanill was jailed, but prosecutors, suspecting wrongdoing, declined to file charges and requested video evidence.
The video, said Assistant District Attorney Nancy Tung, showed Lewelling acting as the aggressor, and Guanill seemingly complying with his orders to leave.
In December, Lewelling was charged with felony assault under the color of authority, misdemeanor assault, perjury, filing a false police report, filing a false official document and felony assault, but was acquitted today of all but the first two charges.
Lewelling’s sentencing is scheduled for October 7.