The owner of a San Francisco store became the subject of outrage online after he was seen nonchalantly hosing down a homeless man out in the cold.
The footage, which was first sent to TikTok by Edson Garcia Kabowner of Brioche Bakery & Cafethere is sharing Collier Gwin argued with an unnamed individual, before spraying him with a garden hose on the sidewalk outside of Foster Gwin Gallery. Larry Maroney, construction workers near the scene saw what was happening, and quickly intervened. He told me KNTV:
“I saw a man hosing it [person] down and I thought it was not right. So I said, ‘What’s wrong?’ because I’m going to get the hose and spray him.”
The victim, who identified as male, according to San Francisco Police Chief Bill Scott, can be seen trying to block the water spray, which we can only assume is chilly considering it is an outside house.
Gwin later spoke to the outlet, explaining that he, and the rest of the block, had a history with the individual:
“The whole neighborhood is part of this situation. The police force is part of this situation. The city and social services are part of this situation. They have repeatedly tried to help this [person] that’s psychotic.”
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He expressed sympathy for the man’s plight, but noted that he had called the police and the city’s social services several times when the man was allegedly harassing:
“There’s really nothing we can do. They’re going to take it [him] to shelter, and they shall return [him] out in two days. He will take it [him] to the hospital, they will release him [him] in one day.”
However, Garcia, the original poster of the video, made a conflicting claim:
“Okay, that’s it [man] do not go into business. [He] sleep on the road, however [he’s] very calm, yes. I’m putting a quarter in the parking meter right now [he] it’s over.”
Maroney told the outlet:
“I can understand both sides. I feel sorry for the tenant, I feel sorry for him [man]. But the police have come out once and said there is nothing they can do.
Police Chief Scott said the victim chose not to press charges, but noted, “an investigation is ongoing.” Gwin, tell me later KPIX in the interview:
“I’m sorry, I’m not going to defend myself, I’m not going to defend myself, because I can’t defend myself.”
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Sounds heartless if you ask!
[Images via ABC7/YouTube]