Jury acquits inmate of attacking San Francisco sheriff's deputy
SF jury acquits inmate of attacking deputy
Jeffery Walker, 61, says he was unfairly lumped in with other inmates accused of attacking San Francisco sheriffs deputies. A jury found him not guilty of battery but convicted him of obstruction, which hes appealing.
SAN FRANCISCO - An inmate accused of attacking a San Francisco sheriff's deputy has been acquitted by a jury.
The incident was among several last year that led to lockdowns.
March 2024 altercation
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Body camera video showed a confrontation between a San Francisco sheriff's deputy and inmate Jeffery Eugene Walker in March 2024.
Authorities said Walker attacked the deputy. However, Walker told KTVU in a phone interview from jail that it was the deputy who attacked him after he asked to use the phone to make legal calls.
San Francisco jail attacks lead to charges against 8 inmates
Prosecutors have charged eight people incarcerated at San Francisco County jails in alleged attacks on sheriff's deputies.
"He grabs my left sleeve, and he holds on to my sleeve. Then he punches me in my mouth, busting my lip," Walker said.
Last week, a jury acquitted the 61-year-old former "Soul Train" dancer of misdemeanor battery of a peace officer. The jury did convict him of obstruction, which Walker is appealing.
The sheriff's office had accused Walker of being among eight inmates who attacked deputies at the jail in separate incidents.
‘Misrepresentation of the truth’
What they're saying:
"That is an absolute misrepresentation of the truth," Walker said. "They hid what happened to me. What they did to me was defamation of character. Then they made me look like I am a violent criminal."
Last year, Sheriff Paul Miyamoto said the spree of attacks on deputies led to lockdowns at two jails. The sheriff's union blamed poor working conditions and understaffing for the incidents.
In court, Walker served as his own attorney. He said it was unfair for the sheriff's office to lump him in with other incidents.
"Yes, the deputies work overtime. Yes, the deputies are tired. But nothing justifies any deputy to do what Deputy Wong did," Walker said.
Walker has filed a federal civil rights lawsuit accusing Deputy Wong of excessive force. That case is still pending.
"I would like the public to know it is time for change," Walker said.
Henry Lee is a KTVU crime reporter. E-mail Henry at Henry.Lee@fox.com and follow him on Twitter @henrykleeKTVU and www.facebook.com/henrykleefan
The Source: Interviews, previous KTVU reporting