Henry Lee's Rap Sheet for Nov. 25, 2015
(KTVU) - Here's the Rap Sheet for Nov. 25, 2015:
A man who said he acted in self-defense against two DMV employees during a chaotic melee involving office supplies was acquitted today of felony charges, according to San Francisco Public Defender Jeff Adachi.
Jeremiah Lowery, 29, of San Francisco was convicted of misdemeanor assault for his role in the August brawl at the DMV office on Fell Street.
The series of events actually began several months earlier when Lowery received a letter from the DMV stating that he couldn't get his California photo ID card because his application wasn't complete.
Lowery says he visited the DMV office four times but couldn't get what he needed. He stopped by for a fifth time on Aug. 16 and got to the counter at the end of the day.
"An unproductive verbal exchange ended with an impatient clerk telling him to "F- off," he told police, according to Adachi.
Lowery said he refused to leave, insisting that he would stay at the window until he got the help he needed.
That's when the DMV clerk picked up a heavy electric stapler, raised it at him and tried to hit him, Lowery told authorities.
Lowery said he tried to protect himself by using the clerk's computer monitor as a shield. Another clerk came over, and Lowery says he swung the monitor at them to fend them off, Adachi said.
A security guard joined in and grabbed Lowery, who "reflexively punched the guard," knocking him to the ground. Customers jumped on him and held him down until police arrived.
Lowery could have faced five years in prison if he was convicted of felony assault. Instead, he was sentenced to time served and ordered to complete 12 anger management classes, said his attorney Deputy Public Defender Sandy Feinland.
"Mr. Lowery just went to the DMV to get his paperwork straightened out. He was not looking for trouble. He certainly didn’t expect employees to fly off the handle and force him to defend himself," Feinland said.
OAKLAND COPS SEEKING BANK ROBBER: Oakland police are asking for the public's help in identifying a man who robbed a downtown bank.
The man walked into Citibank at 1325 Broadway about 10:45 a.m. Tuesday and demanded money from a teller, authorities said. He fled on foot with an undisclosed amount of money.
He is described as white, 30 to 35 years old, 6 feet tall, weighing 175 pounds, with facial hair. He wore a hat, sunglasses, a black hooded sweater with white writing on front, blue jeans, white shoes and was carrying a black and red backpack.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Oakland police by texting TIP OAKLANDPD to 888777 from your cell phone followed by your tip or call 1 (855) 847-7247.
GRAB AND GO: Know these three guys? They stole cell phones and tablets from a Verizon Wireless store in what the Daly City cops are calling a "grab and run."
The theft happened just before 8 p.m. on Nov. 16.
Anyone with information is asked to call Daly City police at (650) 991-8119 or an anonymous tip line at (650) 873-AIMS.
Happy Thanksgiving! Rap Sheet will return on Friday, Nov. 27.
You can see Henry Lee daily on KTVU. If you have a tip for Henry, send an email to Henry.Lee@foxtv.com or contact him on Twitter.