San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie is facing criticism for what many perceive as an indifferent reaction to an attack on his security team member. This criticism is further fueled by revelations that the assailant, who delivered a violent body slam, had previously avoided charges in a murder-related arrest.
The incident unfolded near the city’s troubled Tenderloin neighborhood on Thursday, leading to the arrest of two individuals, Tony Phillips and Abraham Simon, by the San Francisco police. The altercation, which quickly turned violent, was captured on video by Mission Local, sparking widespread discussion.
In the footage, Mayor Lurie is seen casually standing with his hands in his pockets, momentarily observing the confrontation involving his security guard and Phillips, before nonchalantly leaving the scene. An observer on the social media platform X noted that the mayor appeared to “peace out” amidst the chaos.
As the video concludes, a voice queries, “Where did the mayor go?” This sentiment was echoed by Greg Koenig, a user on X, who commented, “Watch how the Mayor just sort of walks off while his own security detail member gets mogged by a criddler. What a complete coward.”
“Watch how the Mayor just sort of walks off while his own security detail member gets mogged by a criddler. What a complete coward,” wrote an X user called Greg Koenig.
“The mayor doesn’t even try and help his employee which is such an insight to his operating system,” another critic weighed in.
Mark Fabela, another X user, posted a video of a 2024 scuffle involving San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan’s security detail, in which the mayor looked on as his guard was pummeled.
“Two mayors. Two fights. Same leadership style: stand there and watch.”
A source familiar with the Thursday incident said the mayor was walking away to fetch another member of the detail for backup.
In 2019, Phillips was detained on suspicion of murder for allegedly stabbing a man to death in a fight not far from the Thursday incident with Lurie’s security detail.
Police said Phillips stabbed a 42-year-old man after an early-morning altercation in the Polk Gulch neighborhood on Aug. 16, 2019. The victim was found bleeding on the sidewalk and later died of his injuries.
Then-District Attorney George Gascon tossed out Phillips’ murder case due to a lack of evidence, according to the San Francisco Examiner.
The incident was caught on surveillance video, the paper reported.
The Thursday incident broke out when Lurie asked people crowding the street to move, according to Mission Local.
Things quickly took a turn when one man began “talking gibberish,” the officer said.
When the officer stepped in and ordered the man to move along, the suspect initially backed off — then came at him
The two tussled and the officer was eventually slammed to the ground.
Phillips was handcuffed at the scene and repeatedly shouted, “F—k you!” as officers arrested him. The second suspect tried to run but was apprehended.
