SF pub owner arrested for alleged baseball bat assault over parking spot dispute

SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) -- A San Francisco bar owner was arrested on suspicion of robbery and assault after an incident last Friday involving a wooden baseball bat in the city's Haight-Ashbury District, according to witnesses and law enforcement.

The incident stems from a dispute Friday over a public parking spot on Haight Street, according to Drew Wood, who goes by "Purple," and his friend, Wolf. The two said they were involved in a confrontation with the man who owns Mad Dog in the Fog, Kezar Pub and Murio's Trophy Room, after two vehicles collided.

"Back up more," Wolf shouted after the collision, according to cellphone video.

Wood said the encounter escalated later that night. About nine hours after the parking dispute, surveillance video showed the bar owner entering a store called Further around 9:30 p.m. carrying a baseball bat.

"And he came and smacked the desk with the bat, like overhead 'pow,' right on the desk. And then Tony Soprano-style was like, "'Don't you ever disrespect me ever again,"' said Drew Wood.

Wood said employees and others inside the store were confused by the man's actions.

"We were mostly confused, like what are you doing right now and so when that wasn't working for him, he tried to take one of the jackets. As he was backing up to leave he was like, "I'm taking this too!" said Purple.

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At one point, Wolf said he and others chased after the man in an attempt to recover merchandise.

"Felt like dealing with a child who is having a hissy fit and then when he ran out into the street when we chased after him to get our merchandise back- he just took it and threw it in the air and ran off," said Wolf.

Wood also alleged he was struck during the encounter.

"After he popped me in the knee, he like threw the jacket back in our direction- I was like what is going on with this guy right now bro," said Purple.

Employees at the businesses the man owns declined to comment.

The San Francisco District Attorney's Office is reviewing the case and is expected to decide whether to file charges and whether any charges would be misdemeanors or felonies.