A San Francisco man has been acquitted of all felony charges following an incident where he allegedly defended himself against police use of excessive force.
Bryan Soper, who spent nearly three years in custody, was arrested in July 2022 after a neighbor reported that he was banging on their door.
According to a press release from the San Francisco Public Defender’s Office, officers arrived on the scene and within a mere ten seconds began firing projectiles at Soper using a device known as an Extended Range Impact Weapon (ERIW).
In response to this aggressive action, Soper threw a small glass jar at the officers but missed.
The police then shot him four more times with the ERIW until a different officer, one trained in de-escalation techniques, arrived on the scene.
Upon the arrival of this new officer, Soper immediately complied with law enforcement.
He sustained injuries from the ERIW and was subsequently charged with false imprisonment and assault on a police officer with a deadly weapon.
However, on May 1, a jury acquitted him of both felony charges.
Deputy Public Defender Sierra Villaran, representing Soper, highlighted the gravity of the situation, stating, “The only person who was injured here was Mr. Soper.”
She further criticized the trend of heavily armed police officers who might resort to injuring or even killing individuals without proper training in crisis management.
During the trial, one SFPD sergeant testified about his readiness to use a firearm against Soper, a statement that raised significant concern among jurors.
Villaran argued that the police had employed excessive force during the encounter, asserting that Soper did not falsely imprison anyone and that throwing the jar was merely an act of self-defense.
Ultimately, the jury’s decision resulted in an acquittal on both the charges of false imprisonment and assault with a deadly weapon.
While Soper was found guilty of misdemeanor vandalism and resisting arrest, he was sentenced to probation on May 8.
Public Defender Mano Raju remarked on the implications of Soper’s case, stating, “Cases like Mr. Soper’s illustrate that when police inflame situations that call for de-escalation, and when prosecutors overcharge cases as felonies, it needlessly consumes huge amounts of public resources.”
The San Francisco Public Defender’s Office is reportedly facing increased pressures, grappling with a growing caseload while having to limit new case assignments for attorneys.
According to CBS News, criminal filings have surged by 31 percent over the past three years, a situation attributed to escalated arrests made by San Francisco police.
District Attorney Brooke Jenkins noted that heightened enforcement of “quality of life” offenses, such as public drug use and retail theft, has been a significant factor in rising arrests.
However, Raju emphasized the need for diversion programs that could lead to more substantial solutions for public safety instead of reliance on arrests.
He stated, “If they get arrested, they’re coming back out again. It’s really important that we connect people so they can put themselves in a position where they can move to a better place in life by connecting them with the appropriate services.”
Further complicating matters, recent budget cuts announced by San Francisco Mayor Daniel Laurie have also put additional strain on both the Public Defender and District Attorney’s offices.
Despite these challenges, Raju commended the efforts of public defenders and the jury involved in Soper’s case.
“I am proud of our public defenders and thankful to the jurors who carefully weighed the evidence in this case,” he noted.
He reiterated the crucial role of public defenders in safeguarding Constitutional rights amid rising concerns about due process failures at higher governmental levels.
Soper’s defense team included Deputy Public Defender Sierra Villaran, Investigator Jesse Huber, and Paralegal Sercan Ersoy, according to the San Francisco Public Defender.
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