A San Francisco man caught hosing down a homeless woman on the street could face jail time. Collier Gwin of Foster-Gwin Art & Antiques was caught on video on Tuesday, January 10, standing on the sidewalk and soaking a woman sitting down in the street. The clip garnered more than 13 million views on Twitter, with Gwin’s heartless actions sparking fury. Many described the man as “inhumane” and “cruel.”
A reporter from the San Francisco Chronicle went to find Collier Gwin and find out his side of the story. He claimed he had no choice but to spray the woman with the hose because she refused to move when he told her to.
“I said you have to move; I cannot clean the street; move down,” he explained. “She starts screaming belligerent things, spitting, yelling at me… At that point, she was so out of control… I spray her with the hose and say ‘Move, move. I will help you.'”
Collier Gwin will face consequences for his actions
The alleged battery of an unhoused member of our community is completely unacceptable. Mr. Gwin will face appropriate consequences for his actions. Likewise, the vandalism at Foster Gwin gallery is also completely unacceptable and must stop – two wrongs do not make a right.
— Brooke Jenkins 謝安宜 (@BrookeJenkinsSF) January 19, 2023
San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins took to Twitter on January 19 to reveal that Collier Gwin will now face criminal charges for his callous actions.
“Following @SFPD’s investigation & reviewing all the evidence provided, my office has issued an arrest warrant for Collier Gwin. Gwin is charged w/ misdemeanor battery for the alleged intentional & unlawful spraying of water on & around a woman experiencing homelessness on 1/9/22,” she wrote.
“The alleged battery of an unhoused member of our community is completely unacceptable. Mr. Gwin will face appropriate consequences for his actions. Likewise, the vandalism at Foster Gwin gallery is also completely unacceptable and must stop – two wrongs do not make a right.”
The police department also released a statement
Shannon Collier Gwin, the suspect in the Montgomery St incident has been arrested. He was booked for the arrest warrant on the charge of battery (242 PC). ➡️ https://t.co/QEjFxfGWXW pic.twitter.com/CghzuKHcFU
— San Francisco Police (@SFPD) January 19, 2023
The San Francisco Police Department also issued a statement detailing Gwin’s arrest. “On January 18, 2023, at approximately 3:30 p.m. Gwin was arrested on the 700 block of Montgomery Street for the warrant. Gwin was transported to the San Francisco County Jail where he was booked for the arrest warrant on the charge of battery (242 PC),” the statement read.
While Collier Gwin previously insisted he wasn’t sorry for what he’d done, he’s since told KPIX he’s had a change of heart. “I’m very, very sorry, I’m not going to defend myself, I’m not going to, because I can’t defend that,” he claimed. Something tells us that came after the charges were announced.
If convicted, Gwin could face six months in jail and a $2,000 fine. While he’s unlikely to see a prison cell, justice needs to be served.
This is horrible. This awful man is spraying a homeless woman down with a hose. You can hear her yell “Help Me!”
Does anyone recognize him? Is he affiliated with Barbarossa Lounge? This is inhumane and inexcusable.
Shout out to @briochessf for posting the video. pic.twitter.com/3ZKeRP4gar
— (((BrokeAssStuart))) (@BrokeAssStuart) January 10, 2023
