In a tense encounter in San Francisco's Union Square neighborhood on Friday, law enforcement officers found themselves encircled by an antagonistic crowd as they apprehended 34-year-old Marcus Khalant Ervin, who was accused of armed robbery.
The San Francisco Police Department (SFPD) report reveals that officers were dispatched to an armed robbery incident near the 200 block of Ellis Street at Mason Street. Upon arrival, they spotted an individual who matched the description provided, fleeing the crime scene. The police stated that the suspect, donned in a balaclava, had vaulted over a store counter, brandished a firearm, and absconded with cash.
Despite the challenging circumstances, the officers managed to detain the suspect, discovering a loaded firearm in his possession. As the arrest was underway, a crowd began to gather around the officers. However, they successfully relocated Ervin to a secure location.
Ervin now faces a litany of charges, including robbery, possession of a concealed firearm, possession of a loaded firearm with intent to commit a felony, public possession of a concealed firearm, prohibited possession of a firearm, possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted person, brandishing a deadly weapon, and resisting arrest.
Hailia Hayes, a 46-year-old woman who claimed to be with Ervin, was also taken into custody. She was charged with battery on a police officer and resisting arrest after allegedly spitting on an officer.
Arrest records indicate that this is not Ervin's first run-in with the law. Since 2021, he has been arrested 11 times in nearby areas for offenses including vehicular robbery, a hit-and-run resulting in injury, and multiple charges of firearm and controlled substance possession.
Ervin is currently being held without bond, with a court hearing scheduled for January 10.
The SFPD reports that robberies in 2023 have seen a 14.5 percent increase compared to the previous year, even as the overall violent crime rate has decreased by 8.2 percent.
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