A federal lawsuit has been filed against San Francisco over a police raid at an affordable housing complex in West Oakland, where residents and staff say plain-clothes officers smashed through the entrance and used excessive force.
The operation took place on 21 May at the Black Panther Apartments, near Seventh and Campbell streets. Police were seeking evidence linked to a robbery suspect who had already been arrested nearby.
Lawsuit challenges San Francisco police raid
The 79-unit building is named after the Black Panther Party and is partly owned by Elaine Brown, a former chairwoman of the organisation. It provides below-market housing for low-income and formerly incarcerated residents.
The lawsuit alleges that about 20 San Francisco officers arrived in unmarked vehicles, confronted security staff and forced their way into the building after management asked to see the warrant and requested time to contact the resident manager.
According to the complaint, security guard Shawn Johnson was pushed against a wall, handcuffed and accused of obstructing officers. The charge was later dismissed.
Officers then used a sledgehammer and battering ram to break through the glass front doors, the lawsuit claims. They proceeded to a fifth-floor flat, where they searched for items connected to the robbery and seized a pair of shoes and a jacket.
Misty Cross, the building’s resident manager and one of the plaintiffs, said she was shoved by officers who refused to show her the warrant during the entry.
Residents said the sudden raid left them fearing that the building was being targeted in an immigration enforcement operation. Civil rights lawyer Adante Pointer, who represents the plaintiffs, said the occupants had done nothing to justify the treatment they received.
“These are people who deserve to be protected, and they had done nothing to be disrespected the way they were on that day,” Mr Pointer said.
The complaint accuses San Francisco police of unreasonable search and seizure, excessive force, vandalism, battery and unlawful arrest. It also alleges that officers had monitored the building’s Wi-Fi networks for about a month before the raid without authorisation.
Police have previously said the operation was supported by a judge-signed search warrant covering the suspect and two locations associated with him. The department said officers entered because of “exigent circumstances”, and that they identified themselves as San Francisco officers while wearing police insignia and body-worn cameras.
Police said the suspect, identified in court records and reporting as 18-year-old Jamil Butler, was wanted in connection with two armed robberies in San Francisco. Officers said he fled when approached near the building and was found carrying a firearm.
The warrant authorised a search of a flat linked to him. The lawsuit says the suspect was already in custody by the time officers entered the building, raising questions over why such a large and forceful operation was necessary.
Ms Brown said the building had never suffered damage on the scale caused by the raid. She accused police of intimidating a vulnerable community.
“This so-called high-crime neighbourhood, the only time we’ve ever had any windows broken or any damage to the building has been by the police themselves,” she said.
Oakland officials have also criticised the operation. Assemblymember Mia Bonta said the community deserved answers and accountability, while Oakland councilmember Charlene Wang said law enforcement should not be used to “criminalise and terrorise” residents.
Oakland mayor Barbara Lee said after the raid that she was “deeply concerned” by reports and video footage of the police action, adding that the incident raised serious concerns at a time when trust between communities and law enforcement remained fragile.
The lawsuit does not name individual officers. San Francisco’s City Attorney’s Office has said it will review the allegations and respond in court once the city is formally served.
