San Francisco authorities are refusing to release the mugshot of David DePape, the suspect arrested in the Oct. 28 hammer attack on Paul Pelosi, husband of U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.).
The SFPD public information officer, Nicole Pacchetti, told The Epoch Times, “Under the current circumstances, we do not release mugshots of the suspect.”
At the time, the chief cited research showing that widespread publication of mugshots “fosters racial bias and vastly overstates the propensity of black and brown men to engage in criminal behavior.” Scott also said refusing to release mugshots reinforces a cornerstone of American jurisprudence: “innocent until proven guilty.”
The Epoch Times is still waiting for responses to outstanding requests for a number of other records related to the incident.
DePape was arrested after police said they witnessed him hitting Pelosi, 82, with a hammer inside the Pelosi residence, fracturing his skull.
In court records, police said DePape admitted to them that he broke into the house by smashing through a glass door, and he had come there “on a suicide mission,” with the intent of questioning Nancy Pelosi about lies and political corruption in Washington.
After Paul Pelosi told DePape that his wife wasn’t home, DePape announced: “I’m going to tie you up.”
Paul Pelosi made an excuse to use the restroom, where he then dialed 911 but “to diffuse the situation,” told the dispatcher he didn’t need emergency help.
The dispatcher decided to send officers anyhow for a well-being check, a move that authorities say may have saved Pelosi’s life.
When officers arrived, they found Pelosi and DePape inside the house, struggling over a hammer. DePape “wrenched the hammer away from Mr. Pelosi,” then hit him in the head “at full force,” a court record states. Pelosi was knocked unconscious. Officers tackled DePape and “disarmed him,” according to the document.
