San Francisco DA charges man in confrontation with mayor's bodyguard

The suspect will face multiple charges, including resisting an officer and assault, after an incident near City Hall.

Published on Mar. 10, 2026

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The San Francisco District Attorney's Office announced charges against a 44-year-old man, Tony Phillips, for his involvement in a physical altercation with San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie's security detail on March 5. Phillips will face charges of resisting an executive officer, causing great bodily injury, assault of a police officer, contempt of a court order, and unauthorized lodging. A second man, 33-year-old Abraham Simon, was also arrested on suspicion of resisting or obstructing a police officer.

Why it matters

The incident highlights ongoing tensions between law enforcement, city officials, and some members of the public in San Francisco, which has grappled with issues of public safety, homelessness, and mental health challenges. The charges against Phillips also raise questions about the use of force by the mayor's security detail and the enforcement of court orders.

The details

According to the District Attorney, video footage shows a verbal exchange between Phillips and the mayor's bodyguard, who is also a San Francisco police officer. The bodyguard is seen shoving Phillips, knocking him to the ground. A second video then shows Phillips slamming the bodyguard to the ground. Mayor Lurie, who was present during the incident, said he was concerned about the safety of pedestrians and vehicles in the area and had asked the two individuals to move off the street. The District Attorney stated that Phillips was in violation of a court order to stay 150 feet away from the location where the incident occurred.

  • The incident occurred on March 5, 2026 near Larkin and Cedar streets in San Francisco.
  • Phillips will be arraigned on the charges on Tuesday.

The players

Tony Phillips

A 44-year-old man who will face multiple charges, including resisting an executive officer, causing great bodily injury, assault of a police officer, contempt of a court order, and unauthorized lodging, in connection with the incident.

Abraham Simon

A 33-year-old man who was arrested on suspicion of resisting or obstructing a police officer during the incident.

Daniel Lurie

The mayor of San Francisco, who was present during the incident and expressed concern for the safety of pedestrians and vehicles in the area.

Brooke Jenkins

The San Francisco District Attorney, who announced the charges against Phillips and Simon.

San Francisco Police Officer

The mayor's bodyguard who was involved in the physical altercation with Phillips.

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What they’re saying

“There was a great deal of conversation that occurred before that.”

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

“I saw two individuals in the middle of a street, not on the sidewalk, literally in the middle of the street. And I was worried about them, and I was worried about [the] safety of pedestrians and cars coming. So, I stopped. We asked them to get up. And then, the incident began.”

— Daniel Lurie, Mayor of San Francisco (cbsnews.com)

“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 a person who also was in violation of a court order not to be in that location, and so from our vantage point, this is somebody who not only presents a risk to the public but also a risk to law enforcement should they attempt to address him in necessary manners, including should he violate that stay-away order again. So, we have significant concerns about what he is willing to do.”

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

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Tony Phillips to be detained pending trial.

The takeaway

This incident highlights the ongoing challenges San Francisco faces in balancing public safety, law enforcement interactions, and the rights of individuals, particularly those dealing with mental health or homelessness issues. The charges against Phillips and Simon underscore the need for continued dialogue and reform to address these complex urban issues.