Suspect arrested in brutal Tenderloin attack was Glide holiday employee

SAN FRANCISCO (KTVU) - The suspect wanted for brutally beating and robbing a man in downtown San Francisco on Saturday has been arrested, police said.

Melton Kelly, 25, of Oakland, was seen on camera attacking the man who was hospitalized with serious conditions. police said. The beating happened the intersection of Cyril Magnin and Ellis streets about a block away from the Powell Street BART station. 

KTVU learned that Kelly is an employee at Glide, which is a Church and community located in the city's Tenderloin District. The organization describes themselves as "a radically inclusive, just and loving community mobilized to alleviate suffering and break the cycles of poverty and marginalization." Kelly was arrested on his way to work at the church at 7:19 a.m. after a "very active manhunt."

Glide confirmed that Kelly, who police say is a convicted felon and was already on probation for robbery, was employed as a temporary 90-day worker and released a statement that read, in part:

"We at Glide abhor violence and make it clear to our staff, whether permanent or temporary, that violence is totally unacceptable. We recognize that violence is a societal issue that we all have a role in helping to solve. There is, however, never an excuse for violence. At Glide we strive to build alternatives and solutions to the violence that unfortunately permeates our society."

Jenny Shao captured the disturbing attack on her cell phone. “It was horrific, it was nauseating and overall I would say it was scary,” she said. “My part was to make sure I was documenting this.”

Shao says people at the scene believed the argument started over a Bluetooth speaker. It quickly escalated. The men are seen in the video wrestling on the ground, some bystanders beg them to stop and one man tries to intervene. 

“The culprit was punching the victim, he was gagging him, throwing him to the floor. Kicking him over and over repeatedly. You could see that his face was swollen,” said Shao.

The suspect then viciously stomps on the victim’s head. “As if weren’t enough, as if he weren’t near the brink of death, the attacker even fished into his pockets and stole all of the money he had,” said Shao.

Kelly was booked at San Francisco County jail on 11 felony charges, including attempted murder, robbery and mayhem, police said.