San Francisco authorities charged two homeless shelter employees with harboring a gunman after the pair allegedly helped hide a robbery suspect who shot and wounded an officer.
City police and prosecutors said Oliver Barcenas, 36, and Erika Porter, 45, were jailed last week on charges of obstruction and harboring an attempted murder suspect.
Prosecutors said Ms. Porter was arraigned Monday, while Mr. Barcenas was expected to be arraigned Tuesday.
The charges stem from a May 31 incident in which police said the duo, who work at what San Francisco officials call a homeless “navigation center,” tried to help Norris Reed III evade police.
“To have employees of this navigation center act in furtherance to assist this individual, knowing that he was armed and police were searching for him, is something we won’t take lightly,” San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins said during a Monday news conference.
A license plate reader flagged Mr. Reed after his vehicle was linked to an armed robbery in Hayward.
Police said officers gave chase until Mr. Reed crashed his car into a concrete barrier. When ordered out of the vehicle, authorities said Mr. Reed opened fire on the officers, hitting one in the leg.
Mr. Reed ran away and eventually found his way to a homeless shelter, police said.
Investigators said surveillance footage from the center showed Mr. Barcenas providing Mr. Reed with a hat and clothing to conceal his identity, even though Mr. Barcenas knew Reed had a gun.
Authorities said Mr. Barcenas is on federal probation for being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition.
Surveillance cameras also recorded Ms. Porter lying to police when questioned about the suspect’s whereabouts. Police brass said Mr. Reed was standing just around the corner to avoid being spotted by officers.
“I watched the video of this, which is stunning,” San Francisco Police Chief Derrick Lew said. “Even after recognizing that this man was armed, as he tried to enter the navigation center, they still assisted him.”
Mr. Reed was captured a short time later and charged with attempted murder.
The officer wounded in the shooting, Brittney Taylor, has since been released from the hospital and is recovering.
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