Art Gallery Owner Charged with Battery for Spraying Unhoused Woman with Hose
Above: Still image from video of the incident
A San Francisco art gallery owner captured on video spraying an unhoused woman with a hose has been charged and arrested.
The San Francisco Police Department announced in a Facebook post that 71-year-old Shannon Collier Gwin, co-owner of Foster Gwin Gallery, has been arrested on suspicion of battery.
Earlier this month, on January 9, Gwin was captured on cellphone video spraying the woman with water as she sat outside near the art gallery. In an interview with CBS, Gwin admitted to being the person in the video.
Gwin’s actions were widely condemned. Although police had responded to the scene, both parties reportedly declined to take further action at the time.
After fully investigating the incident, however, the District Attorney’s Office concluded there was sufficient evidence for a charge of battery.
Gwin was arrested near the art gallery on the afternoon of Wednesday, January 18. If convicted as charged, he reportedly faces a maximum of six months in jail and a $2,000 fine.
