Two workers at a taxpayer-funded homeless shelter in San Francisco were busted for allegedly hiding a violent gunman after he shot a police officer.
Oliver Barcenas, 36, and Erika Porter, 45, were both arrested for harboring an attempted murder suspect who shot an SF Police Department officer in May, according to an announcement made by San Francisco Police on Friday.
“Attempting to assist an armed gunman evade capture after shooting a police officer is unconscionable,” Chief Derrick Lew said.
“Thankfully, our officers captured this violent suspect despite the efforts by two individuals to help him. I want to thank all our officers who took this dangerous suspect off our streets and our diligent investigators who followed up to hold the two navigation center employees accountable,” he added.
The shooting incident unfolded when police tried to stop a man driving a vehicle near the Bay Bridge on the evening of May 31. After ignoring officers, the driver led police on a pursuit before crashing into a concrete barrier, police said.
The driver — identified as 36-year-old named Norris Reed III — then allegedly opened fire on two officers, shooting one in the leg, after he and a passenger were ordered to exit the car.
Reed fled the scene on foot before he was arrested about two hours later at Bayshore Navigation Center, police said. At the center, Barcenas is accused of providing Reed with new clothing to hide his identity while Porter allegedly made false statements to police while they were searching for the suspect.
Barcenas was previously sentenced to seven years in jail for being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition after pleading guilty on December 2018.
Bayshore Navigation Center is a shelter for people experiencing homelessness, accommodating up to “128-long term guests, who receive case management and referral services to assist residents in transitioning to stable housing.”
The center is funded through city contracts and operates under Five Keys, a nonprofit organization that works on behalf of San Francisco’s Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing.
Reed is currently charged with two counts of attempted murder and other felonies.
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