Tori Gaines and Ella Sogomonian
2 months ago
SAN FRANCISCO (CRON) — A San Francisco business is experiencing misplaced hatred after a man was filmed spraying water at what appeared to be a homeless woman outside the store. The problem is that although the man is the owner of a nearby business, he has nothing to do with them.
A video captured by another business owner shows a man using a hose to spray a powerful jet of water at a woman sitting on the sidewalk. The woman appears to be homeless, and as she screams, he continues spraying her.
The man then points down the street and commands “move” several times. Then he asks: “Do you want to move?” before the video ends.
The San Francisco Police Department says officers were called to the site just after noon Monday after receiving reports of a possible attack. Officers met a man they identified as a suspect in an altercation with a woman. Both parties reportedly refused police action as a result.
SFPD says the San Francisco Street Crisis Response Team was also called to the scene to provide support services to the woman. The officers filed a complaint with the police to document the incident.
The San Francisco Chronicle identified the man with the hose as Collier Gwin, owner of the Foster Gwin Art Gallery in San Francisco. He said he called police and social services and told the woman to move before allegedly throwing trash cans and yelling back.
Gwin stands by his actions, telling the Chronicle, “She starts screaming warlike things, spitting, yelling at me… at that point she was so out of control… I hose her down and say move, move.” . I’ll help you.”
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Social media users have criticized Gwin for what he has done, particularly against a woman who appears to be homeless. Someone shattered the glass on his front door on Tuesday. Many users also took to social media to criticize local business Barbarossa Lounge, seen behind Gwin in the video.
The owners of the Barbarossa Lounge made it clear in a statement that they do not condone Gwin’s behavior. “Barbarossa is not connected to the inhuman acts depicted in the video,” the statement said.
The video was captured by Edson Garcia, an employee at the coffee shop next door, who said he started recording when he heard the woman scream as he was stuck in traffic on his way to work.
Garcia and others in the area said they had seen the woman sit in the spot for the past few weeks, refusing help and asking to be left alone. Barbarossa’s owners called San Francisco Social Services to help the woman.
The Homelessness and Housing Department says business owners should call 3-1-1 if the homeless might be blocking the entrance. The Street Crisis Response Team (SCRT) will then contact and offer the person information about available services.
Jennifer Friedenbach, executive director of the Coalition on Homelessness, explains that the process requires more resources to work as intended.
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“Ideally they would be assigned an intensive case manager. Unfortunately there are thousands of people on the waiting list. The other thing that needs to happen is that we need to make sure that once people are in treatment, they are stabilized in accommodation that suits their needs,” she said.
Friedenbach confirms that this woman in the video was offered to go to congregation accommodation, but says it is not appropriate for a person who could be seriously ill and disruptive. San Francisco Chief Executive Aaron Peskin tweeted, “My office is well acquainted with the victim and has been attempting to enlist her support from (the San Francisco Department of Public Health) for many months.”
DPH has not commented on this story.
