Executive Summary
- A San Francisco jury acquitted a man of felony drug possession with intent to sell after he was held in custody for eight months.
- The defense argued the drugs were for personal use to manage a long-term addiction, a view supported by a drug dependence expert.
- The man was arrested during a large-scale police raid in February 2025, which the Public Defender’s Office criticized as “dehumanizing and ineffective.”
- Following his acquittal and release, the man is now reportedly receiving addiction treatment services.
A San Francisco jury has acquitted a man of all charges, including felony possession of drugs with intent to sell, following an eight-month period of incarceration. The verdict, delivered on October 22, 2025, came after his arrest during a large-scale police raid at Jefferson Square Park in February 2025.
Prosecutors had opposed all motions for the man’s pretrial release, citing public safety concerns. Throughout the proceedings, the accused maintained his innocence regarding drug sales, testifying about his personal struggles with homelessness and addiction. His testimony was supported by a drug dependence expert who stated the quantity of narcotics found could have reasonably been for personal use.
The arrest was part of a broader operation on February 26 by the San Francisco Police Department, which it described as a response to community complaints about drug activity. The raid resulted in 90 arrests and the seizure of over 1.2 pounds of narcotics. “Drug-related activity will never be tolerated in Jefferson Square or any other part of the city,” Police Chief Bill Scott said in a statement following the operation.
The San Francisco Public Defender’s Office, which represented the man, criticized the raid’s effectiveness and tactics. “The drug crisis in San Francisco is absolutely troubling, but not all people who use [drugs] are sellers,” said Deputy Public Defender Sylvia Nguyen. She highlighted her client’s long-standing battle with addiction and described the police tactics as “dehumanizing and ineffective.”
According to the public defender’s office, body-camera footage contradicted the police’s official account of a calm operation. The footage reportedly showed officers yelling, pushing bystanders, and using profanity. It also disputed the police claim that the accused attempted to flee, showing instead that he was outside the park on a scooter when arrested.
Following his acquittal and release, the man is now receiving addiction treatment services, according to his defense team. The case highlights ongoing debates about the city’s approach to its drug crisis and the justice system’s handling of individuals with substance use disorders. It is important to note that all individuals accused of a crime are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.