A man named Tony Phillips, accused of attacking the bodyguard of San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie last week, has been taken back into custody for breaching a court order.
This altercation occurred on March 5 and involved police officer Joel Aguayo, who was providing security for the mayor.
The confrontation was filmed, showing Aguayo shoving Phillips, a 44-year-old man experiencing homelessness, into a pile of trash next to the mayor.
Last week, Judge Sylvia Husing decided to release Phillips, stating that it was the security officer who had instigated the violence.
Pleaded not guilty to a range of felony charges—including resisting arrest and assaulting an officer—Phillips is set to appear in court again on April 15.
More than a week after his release, on Monday, Phillips was charged again and sent back to the San Francisco County Jail.
Police reportedly arrested him while investigating a homeless encampment at Larkin and Cedar streets on suspicion of violating the court order.
According to reports, Mayor Lurie had directed security to stop near Cedar Street in the Tenderloin area, where he confronted a group of homeless individuals, asking them to move. Phillips allegedly reacted aggressively, claiming, “Who should I act on behalf of?” and stated, “I’m going to kick Bruce Lee’s ass,” when talking to Aguayo.
Aguayo sustained multiple injuries, including cuts and bruises to his face and back.
In response to the incident, Lurie shared a video on Instagram, explaining that he walks through the streets daily to understand issues better. He emphasized his commitment to communicating with families, business owners, and residents to improve public safety and address homelessness.
Interestingly, Phillips had previously been arrested on suspicion of murder in 2019 after a stabbing event, but was not charged due to a lack of evidence.
