San Francisco’s district attorney has declined to file formal charges — for now — against two suspects in an alleged carjacking last weekend that ended in a spectacular crash on the city’s Sanchez Street steps in the Castro District and was caught on surveillance video.
Kevin Nelson, 36, and Jennifer Bonham 31, were arrested Tuesday on suspicion of several charges, including carjacking, receiving a stolen vehicle, and conspiracy. Bonham was also charged with suspicion of reckless driving, KPIX reported.
But the statement from District Attorney Brooke Jenkins’s office on Friday said the charges would be “discharged at this time pending further investigation and witness unavailability.”
The DA’s office declined to explain what that meant, exactly, when reached by multiple news organizations. The charges can be filed later, however.
“We understand the investigation is ongoing. Eye witness and people with information or video evidence are encouraged to contact SFPD,” District 8 Supervisor Rafael Mandelman, who represents the area when the incident happened, told the San Francisco Standard. “The police will take anonymous reports.”
The incident took place on July 22 when several people allegedly carjacked a vehicle at the intersection of 19th and Dolores Streets, SF Gate reported. Moments later, the white sedan rumbled down the Sanchez Street staircase, flipped, and took out a tree at the foot of the stairs, landing on its top. It was just blocks away from the site of the alleged carjacking.
Passersby helped five people get out of the car, and all five fled the scene.
Police said the driver of the car told them he was sitting in his car near Dolores Park when several people carjacked him and took the car. He reportedly walked to the crash scene from the park and spoke with officers there.
On Tuesday, police arrested Nelson and Bonham. Nelson initially was taken to the hospital for treatment of injuries he suffered in the crash. No information has been provided about the other three people who were in the car.
In the video, two people get out of the front seat of the car fairly quickly and flee up the stairs. A woman follows them out of the front seat and helps two people out of the back. Those three walk calmly away from the crash scene just before a fire engine arrives on the scene.
According Standard, Bonham was released on parole from a previous felony conviction on March 2. As a condition of her release, she was banned from contacting Nelson.
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[Featured image: YouTube video screenshot]
