S.F. District Attorney Gascón blasts suspect in Critical Mass attack

Ian Hespelt appears in court in San Francisco, Calif., on Thurs. September 10, 2015. Hespelt is accused of attacking a woman inside a vehicle during last month's Critical Mass bike ride. Ian Hespelt appears in court in San Francisco, Calif., on Thurs. September 10, 2015. Hespelt is accused of attacking a woman inside a vehicle during last month's Critical Mass bike ride. Photo: Michael Macor, The Chronicle Buy photo Photo: Michael Macor, The Chronicle Image 1 of / 13 Caption Close S.F. District Attorney Gascón blasts suspect in Critical Mass attack 1 / 13 Back to Gallery

A cyclist facing four felony charges showed “despicable behavior” when he allegedly used a metal lock to attack a driver last month, smashing the car’s windows during a Critical Mass bike ride in San Francisco, the city’s top prosecutor said Thursday.

District Attorney George Gascón spoke after Ian Hespelt, 39, contested his bail amount in front of San Francisco Superior Court Judge Daniel Flores. It was Hespelt’s first court appearance since the Aug. 28 encounter during the monthly protest ride, which was captured on video and widely seen.

Flores lowered Hespelt’s bail from $145,000 to $90,000 in connection with charges filed by Gascón’s office of assault with a deadly weapon, false imprisonment, throwing a substance at a vehicle and vandalism. Wearing orange jail garb and a distinctive handlebar mustache that police said helped them identify Hespelt, he did not enter a plea.

“If you engage in this kind of behavior, there will be consequences,” Gascón said. “We are operating under very congested road conditions. Whether they are driving, riding a bike or walking, people need to respect and understand each other.”

Gascón said Hespelt’s alleged actions not only endangered the safety of the victim, but threatened fellow cyclists who could have been hit when the driver sped away. The assailant, wearing a T-shirt advocating non-violence, was shown on video going after the Zipcar driver with a U-lock, shattering her window and coming within inches of the woman’s head.

“This was despicable behavior,” Gascon said. “If we allow this kind of behavior to go on with no threat, there is a public safety risk.”

Hespelt’s attorney, Justin Goodwin, said in a brief statement, “My client is deeply saddened and shocked that what began as a simple bike ride turned into these charges.”

In the video, which was posted to YouTube, a pack of riders headed against the flow of traffic along Marina Boulevard near Lyon Street, when one man, identified as Hespelt, stopped in front of the Zipcar driver.

After shouting that she was hitting him, other cyclists surrounded the woman, who then backed up and tried to drive around them before being attacked. Officials estimated that Hespelt did $1,400 in damage to the Subaru Zipcar.

“He’s not only scaring a woman in a car, he’s also instigating others, saying she hit his bike,” Assistant District Attorney Stephanie Zudekoff said in court Thursday. “If that glass hit her in some way, it could have hurt her.”

The driver, who was not named, later spoke with police and gave a statement about what happened.

Hespelt, who was arrested Sept. 5, is due back in court Monday, when he may enter a plea.

Evan Sernoffsky is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. E-mail: esernoffsky@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @EvanSernoffsky