2 Men Arrested in Attack on Mayor Daniel Lurie’s Security Team in the Tenderloin

Two suspects have been arrested following an attack on San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie’s security team on Thursday evening in the Tenderloin.

Video footage, first obtained by Mission Local, shows a physical confrontation between a man and one of Lurie’s security officers near Cedar and Polk streets around 6 p.m.

The mayor, who was unharmed in the event, is seen in the video briefly but moves away as one of his officers scuffles with one of the suspects and falls to the ground, leaving his head bleeding.

No life-threatening injuries were reported and the security officer was treated at the scene.

Tony Phillips, 44, and Abraham Simon, 33, were transported to San Francisco County Jail. Phillips was booked on attempted assault against an officer and other charges. Simon was booked for obstructing an officer and for an active out-of-country warrant.

“We are grateful that the officers assigned to the mayor’s security detail acted swiftly and courageously to protect him in a dangerous and unpredictable situation,” Louis Wong, the president of the San Francisco Police Officers Association, said in a statement. “We wish our injured officer a full and speedy recovery and commend all involved for their bravery and decisive actions.”

Photos show that several police officers quickly arrived on the scene, where the two suspects were arrested. The San Francisco Chronicle reported that Phillips was arrested on suspicion of murder in 2019 but not charged.

Lurie’s spokesperson, Charles Lutvak, issued a brief statement the morning after the incident, saying “the mayor was not involved. We appreciate our SFPD officers for their quick response and for keeping our city safe every day.”

It’s not the first time security details for a Bay Area mayor have faced confrontations on the street.

In April 2024, one of San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan’s security officers got into a physical altercation with a pedestrian as Mahan was doing an interview with KRON4 outside a restaurant opening. Mahan is also seen in the video stepping away from the altercation and was not harmed.

Lurie and Mahan, who is running for governor, are both moderate Democrats who have repeatedly touted their administrations’ efforts to revitalize the downtown areas of San Francisco and San Jose. Both have pushed to increase police staffing and campaigned on boosting public safety.