A 24-year-old San Francisco man was arrested Monday on suspicion of driving a car through the middle of Dolores Park over the weekend, police said.
A bystander went to the Mission BART Station on Saturday just before 8 p.m. and told authorities that someone had been recklessly driving over the grass in the park earlier that day, the San Francisco Police Department said in a news release. “Several people” were in the park at the time, according to the news release.
Videos posted on social media show multiple groups sitting on the grass as an SUV drives through the park, with a person hanging out of the passenger side window. The driver then left the park in an “unknown direction.”
On Monday, SFPD officers located the vehicle, as it was allegedly traveling at an “excessive speed” on Van Ness Avenue and McAllister Street. Officers tried to pull over the driver, but they allegedly continued to drive “with a willful and wanton disregard” for the public’s safety, police said.
SFPD officers eventually found the SUV parked on Turk and Larkin Streets, where the 24-year-old driver allegedly continued to ignore police commands to stop. The suspect eventually stopped at Post and Webster streets and stepped out of the car, police said. He was then arrested.
Two other people were in the car when the driver was detained. The passengers were released by authorities, but the suspect was booked into San Francisco County Jail on suspicion of resisting arrest, driving in a restricted bus transit lane, reckless driving and driving without a license.
According to jail records, the suspect is being held without bail. SFPD did not answer SFGATE’s additional questions about the alleged reckless driving.
Anyone with information is urged to call SFPD at 415-575-4444 or text the tipline at TIP411.
Madilynne Medina
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