Man threatened to 'Bruce Lee' kick Mayor Lurie's bodyguard, S.F. DA says

Prosecutors say the suspect threatened the officer before the officer pushed him away.

Published on Mar. 10, 2026

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A man charged with assaulting Mayor Daniel Lurie's police bodyguard last week allegedly threatened the officer moments before the security detail shoved him to the ground, saying 'Bruce Lee I'll kick your ass!' prosecutors said in court documents. The alleged threat represents the first detailed explanation that authorities have offered for why the San Francisco police officer protecting Lurie was seen initiating the physical contact with Tony Shervaughn Phillips during the violent encounter.

Why it matters

The incident has raised questions about Mayor Lurie's hands-on approach to engaging with people on the streets of San Francisco, and whether his direct interactions with the public could put his security detail at risk.

The details

According to prosecutors, the officer, referred to as 'Officer A,' 'shoved Mr. Phillips away from himself and to create distance' after Phillips allegedly threatened him. Security footage showed the officer shoving Phillips several feet back onto the curb as Phillips approached the officer, who was standing just in front of Lurie. Phillips, 44, faces charges stemming from last week's incident as well as five separate misdemeanor cases involving drugs and violating an order to stay away from the block where he was arrested.

  • The incident occurred around 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 7, 2026.
  • Phillips was scheduled to be arraigned on Tuesday, March 12, 2026.

The players

Daniel Lurie

The mayor of San Francisco.

Tony Shervaughn Phillips

A 44-year-old man charged with assaulting Mayor Lurie's police bodyguard.

Officer A

The San Francisco police officer who was protecting Mayor Lurie and shoved Phillips.

Brooke Jenkins

The San Francisco District Attorney.

Derrick Lew

The San Francisco Police Chief.

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What they’re saying

“This is an individual who was requested by a police officer to do something and forcefully resisted that police officer at the time and engaged in assaultive conduct. This is somebody who presents not only a risk to the public but also a risk to law enforcement should they attempt to address him.”

— Brooke Jenkins, San Francisco District Attorney (sfchronicle.com)

“There are people struggling on our streets with addiction, struggling with homelessness, and I believe as mayor that I should go and try to help people. Our small business owners, our families, our parents walking their kids to school encounter people on the street every single day. They have to do business every single day under these conditions. And I think I need to be able to see it myself and not just stay cloistered up.”

— Daniel Lurie (sfchronicle.com)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Tony Shervaughn Phillips out on bail.

The takeaway

This incident highlights the risks and challenges Mayor Lurie faces in his hands-on approach to engaging with people on San Francisco's streets, and raises questions about how to balance public safety with the mayor's desire to directly interact with and help those struggling with homelessness and addiction.