(Cupventi.com) – A homeless man accused of assaulting former San Francisco fire commissioner Donald Carmignani was acquitted of all charges on Friday. Garret Doty, 25, allegedly attacked Carmignani with a metal pipe on April 5, facing charges of two counts of assault and one count of battery.
Deputy Public Defender Kleigh Hathaway argued Doty’s actions were driven by “fear for his life and self-defense.” The San Francisco Public Defender’s Office criticized the selective release of video footage by Carmignani’s attorneys, asserting that it omitted the beginning of the altercation.
Doty’s defense contended that Carmignani provoked the incident, using bear spray and threatening violence unless Doty moved his belongings. Carmignani claimed three homeless people had set up an encampment near his mother’s home, causing her distress.
According to the public defender’s office, after Carmignani allegedly threatened Doty, the latter armed himself with a metal rod from a garbage bin. They stated that Carmignani baited Doty into approaching and then sprayed him with bear spray, leading to the violent confrontation.
Carmignani suffered severe injuries, including 51 stitches, a fractured skull, and a broken jaw. Deputy Public Defender Kleigh Hathaway asserted that Doty acted in self-defense, emphasizing the heightened fear response for unhoused individuals.
John Dennis, Chairman of the San Francisco GOP, criticized Democrat policies, expressing disappointment in the trial’s outcome. He argued that such incidents would persist due to the city’s approach to homelessness.
The public defense highlighted Carmignani’s prior use of pepper spray against homeless individuals, claiming eight separate incidents. Carmignani did not testify in Doty’s trial but invoked the Fifth Amendment during a preliminary hearing.
Carmignani and his mother reported contacting local police about the homeless encampment, but there was allegedly no response. Doty’s group continued to harass Carmignani’s family throughout the day, engaging in drug use and public harassment.
Carmignani, a lifelong resident, called for policy changes prioritizing the safety of law-abiding citizens over those involved in drugs and violence. He hoped the incident would lead to improved protection for San Francisco residents and full prosecution for his attackers.