E-Scooter Rider Fleeing Police Charged After Injuring 72-Year-Old Pedestrian: SFDA

SAN FRANCISCO, CA — A scooter rider who crashed into an elderly woman while being chased by police in San Francisco on Monday has been charged with assault, prosecutors said.

Melthon Branch, 35, faces the following charges stemming from the incident:

• evading an officer causing serious bodily injury,
• leaving the scene of an accident, with an allegation that he personally inflicted great bodily injury on the victim,
• elder abuse, with an allegation that he personally inflicted great bodily injury on the victim and that he personally used a deadly weapon
• battery with serious bodily injury
• assault with a deadly weapon
• evading an officer against traffic
• possession for sale of methamphetamine

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Branch was riding an electric scooter on a sidewalk along Ellis Street, heading towards Jones Street, when an officer recognized him from an outstanding U.S. Marshals Service warrant, the San Francisco District Attorney's Office said.

The officer tried to pull Branch over, but the 35-year-old scooted away, driving against pedestrian traffic for several streets, going into busy roadways and violating traffic signals, prosecutors said.

"Pedestrians had to move out of Mr. Jones’ way to avoid being struck by him as he weaved in and out of the street and sidewalks," prosecutors said.

Branch continued northbound along Powell Street towards O'Farrell Street, before driving onto a sidewalk and crashing head-on into a 72-year-old woman, prosecutors said.

The impact sent the woman to the ground, prosecutors said, adding that the crash left her a fractured elbow and broken wrist that required surgery.

After the crash, Branch ran off towards the 200 block of O'Farrell Street, where he tried hiding from officers by diving under a table at a restaurant as customers ate, prosecutors said.

Officers found him and took him into custody in connection with the warrant and crash, authorities said.

During the arrest, police found seized suspected methamphetamine, over $2,000 in cash, narcotics paraphernalia, a digital scale, unused packaging, including Ziploc baggies, and three credit cards with other people’s names, from Branch, prosecutors said.

Branch was due in court on Thursday afternoon for arraignment. It's unclear whether he's submitted a plea.