In a recent development in San Francisco, a homeless man, previously acquitted for a violent assault on the city's former fire commissioner, has been arrested again on charges of assault with a deadly weapon.
This incident comes just weeks after his acquittal, raising concerns about the safety of the city's residents.
Garret Doty, 24, had been previously implicated in an assault on Don Carmignani, the former San Francisco Fire Commissioner, in April 2023. Carmignani had reported three homeless men loitering outside his mother's home, engaging in drug use and harassing passersby. When his calls for assistance went unanswered, Carmignani confronted the men, leading to a violent altercation with Doty.
According to Blaze News, Doty attacked Carmignani with a metal rod from a garbage bin, causing severe injuries that required emergency surgery. The incident, captured on video by a bystander, showed the brutal assault that left Carmignani with a punctured skull, a broken jaw, and subsequent short-term memory issues.
Doty was initially charged with assault with a deadly weapon, aggravated battery with serious bodily injury, and assault with force likely to produce great bodily injury. However, prosecutors later moved to drop the charges, suggesting that Carmignani may have instigated the attack by using bear spray against the homeless men, and that Doty's actions could be seen as self-defense.
Despite this, the case against Doty proceeded, possibly due to his violation of an order to stay away from the Marina District neighborhood where the incident occurred. However, in December, a jury acquitted Doty of all charges.
Doty's public defender, Kleigh Hathaway, hailed the verdict as a victory for homeless individuals like Doty, who she claimed lived in constant fear. "From the beginning, it was clear to me that Mr. Doty was acting in self-defense against Mr. Carmignani," she stated.
Mike Brophy, a juror, later revealed that the jury viewed the case through an ideological lens, suggesting that the prosecutors manipulated the evidence to crack down on homeless violence. Brophy also criticized Carmignani, labeling him as "a reprehensible character" and "a known vigilante."
The Marina Times, an independent outlet, reported that Doty, now 25, was arrested earlier this week for allegedly attacking another individual in the same neighborhood. Doty was arrested and charged with assault with a deadly weapon, not a firearm, and as of Tuesday morning, he remains in custody with no bond set.
This latest incident has sparked outrage on social media, with many blaming the jury for releasing Doty back onto the streets. One user wrote, "Its a shame this latest victim cant sue the judge or members of the jury that acquitted this thug Doty. This latest attack is on all their consciences. How do they live with themselves?"
Another user expressed concern that if this case goes to trial, the jury might again be swayed by ideological framing. The Marina Times echoed this sentiment, suggesting that the defense might be looking for ways to discredit the victim and hoping for a jury that would ignore the law.
This series of events has raised questions about the safety of San Francisco's residents and the effectiveness of its judicial system in dealing with violent offenders. As the city grapples with these issues, the debate over how to handle homeless violence continues to intensify.
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