SF Public Defenders Play Gullible Superior Court Judge
Where’s a cop when you need one?
Despite SFPD statistics showing crime is dropping in the city, residents and tourists still don’t feel safe. Why?
Is it the ubiquity of mentally disturbed and drug addicts roaming our streets? The ones that shout loudly and randomly beat up and destroy physical objects.
Don’t these performances scare citizens from riding Muni and drive concerned parents to even chauffeur teenage students to high school? And doesn’t this result in even more traffic gridlock on a shrinking San Francisco street count? Which contributes to global warming? Progressives? SF Bicycle Coalition? Where are you on this?
Nat Bailey is the Marina poster child of such bad behavior.
On March 14th, SFPD arrested Bailey for an outstanding warrant on Chestnut Street.
On April 1st, SFPD arrested Bailey for an attempted burglary on Chestnut Street.
On April 7th, SFPD arrested Bailey for an aggravated assault on an elder on Chestnut Street.
On April 30th, SFPD arrested Bailey for an outstanding warrant and resisting arrest on Filbert Street.
On May 2nd, SFPD arrested Bailey for arson and possessing an incendiary device on Chestnut Street.
On June 23rd, SFPD arrested Bailey for an outstanding warrant on Chestnut Street.
On July 4th, SFPD arrested Bailey for an outstanding warrant and resisting arrest on Chestnut Street.
On July 19th, Bailey boarded a MUNI bus at Chestnut and Laguna Streets. He immediately broke the glass on the rear door. He then shouted to the driver “Drop me off at the next stop!” Bailey exited the bus. Where’s a cop when you need one? Right there. Bailey saw SFPD and took flight. He was caught and then passively resisted SFPD’s attempts to handcuff him. SFPD arrested Bailey.
Only a week later, on July 26th, Jessica was parked in front of Super Duper Burger (you guessed it) on Chestnut Street. Bailey, for no reason, threw a stool from the restaurant that struck and damaged Jessica’s car. Where’s a cop when you need one?Again, SFPD was quickly there and arrested Bailey.
In SF, whether on the street or on MUNI, we all encounter Baileys on a daily basis. It makes living in San Francisco an uncomfortable experience for families. For those of you not keeping score at home, Bailey was arrested 9 times in less than six months. But its the prevalence of Baileys that are spun through County Jail’s revolving doors that signals there is something wrong with our judicial system.
Let’s explore how the application of a new left coast offensive play from the San Francisco Public Defender’s playbook contributes to the quick return of Baileys back on the streets.
Location: Judge Patrick Thompson’s courtroom (Department 12)
Judge Patrick Thompson was appointed by Gavin Newsom to Superior Court in 2022. Thompson’s legal background is skewed toward business and is vacant of experience in criminal law. In his March reelection, he defeated challenger Assistant District Attorney Jean Roland, despite her abundance of criminal legal experience. The San Francisco Chronicle endorsed Judge Thompson— that tells you all you need to know.
In his campaign, Thompson promised, “I run things by the book. I respect everyone that comes before me. I follow the law. I understand public safety concerns.”
Bailey’s first court appearance was scheduled for August 13th in Judge Thompson’s court. Bailey decided he was not going to leave his cell for court that day. The author of the arrest incident report was present in court. However, Assistant District Attorney Mary Polk used another officer’s absence due to illness to allow Bailey’s case to be continued to the next day.
Bailey would not come out of his cell the next day either, which wasted the officers’ time again.
On August 19th, the incident report’s author was again present in court. However, per my sources, with one of the arresting officers “standing by and ready for court at his station,” ADA Polk watched as Thompson released Bailey on his “own recognizance.” Thompson did this despite the fact that Bailey had earned four warrant arrests in the past six months for not showing up to court (see above.)
Think this is an isolated case?
On May 22, 2023, SFPD undercovers and one DEA agent conducted surveillance on narcotics transactions at 7th and Mission Streets. Sajid Ahmad was arrested with approximately an ounce of fentanyl, a half ounce of meth, cocaine, and 53 Alprazolam pills. As a fentanyl dealer, Ahmad is effectively killing San Franciscans.
On Wednesday July 3rd of this year, the DEA agent flew up from San Diego to attend Thompson’s court at 850 Bryant Street. Sarah Hashemi from the SF Public Defender’s Office represented Ahmad. Hashami has previously worked in different capacities as for the public defender offices in Alameda and Orange counties. She’s a believer.
Hashemi announced to Judge Thompson that Ahmad was refusing to come out of his cell. The next day, Thursday July 4th represented the beginning of a four-day weekend. Per court transcripts, Thompson instructed the DEA agent, “So you have to come back on Friday.” The DEA agent pleaded to Thompson, “I’m on vacation.” Thompson responded, “You’re ordered present on Friday. The subpoena to the extent it’s in force and effect on Friday. If you fail to appear, you’re violating a court order.”
This is evidence of Thompson’s double standard: Bailey and Ahmad can blow off court without consequences, but a DEA agent going on a scheduled vacation with his family? Thompson effectively flashed his middle finger to the DEA agent and his family. Assistant District Attorney Reve Bautista ended up having to accept Ahmad’s plea.
Bailey, a street person, and Ahmad,a fentanyl dealer, do not travel in the same circles and would not have shared this courtroom left coast delay tactic. The common thread is the legal advice they received from the SF Public Defenders’ Office.
Numerous SFPD officers have cited cases to me where they have had to play this musical chairs game with defendants refusing to vacate their cells until one officer can’t attend court. It’s occurring with more frequency and it’s a huge waste of time for law enforcement agents that could be patrolling our streets. It is also a misuse of taxpayers’ dollars.
Fentanyl killed 810 people in San Francisco in 2023. It was the highest year on record. Where were the cops? On the street arresting the felons and then attending court. But despite their efforts, it seems Judge Thompson is oblivious to both the fentanyl epidemic and the “public’s safety concerns” he preached that he understood so well during his campaign.
As usual Lou B drops the mic on the outrageous double standard! SF had a chance to get a judge in the court who would not put up with this Tom foolery but elected the same bs mentality that has kept SF in the BS. Cops do their job, the DA is doing their job, but the judges and public defenders want those who are causing the harm to keep causing the harm and mayhem out on the streets.
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