SFPD Officer Injured In Arrest Of Man In Mission District

On September 9th, 2016 at 6:21 AM, an SFPD officer responded to a report of a naked male chasing people and throwing a branch at pedestrians walking on the 3800 block of 25th Street in the Mission District.

Upon arrival, the officer encountered a partially nude male in his 30’s who was talking to himself. Shortly thereafter, the officer announced over the radio that he was in a physical fight with the suspect.

Additional units responded to the officer’s aid. Three of the arriving officers struggled with the combative male as they attempted to handcuff him. As more officers arrived, they were able to gain control of the resisting subject and place him in handcuffs.

The initial responding officer sustained an injury to his right eye after the suspect attempted to gouge out the officer’s eye. The officer also sustained a severe bite mark to his right cheek after the suspect bit the officer’s face. The officer also sustained cuts to his hands and abrasions to his forearms while trying to restrain the subject.

The subject is identified as Robert Mathew Kaplan, a 37 year-old San Diego resident. Kaplan was charged with felony battery on a peace officer, felony battery causing serious bodily injury, felony assault with a deadly weapon, felony vandalism, felony aggravated mayhem, and obstructing and resisting a peace officer.

SFPD Mission Station Investigators are seeking the assistance of the public in providing any cell phone video that may have captured the assault. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Mission Station Investigation Team (SIT) during business hours at 415-558-5400, anonymously at the SFPD Tip Line at 415-575-4444 or Text-a-tip to TIP411 and begin the text message with SFPD.