Teen girl slammed unconscious during arrest by San Francisco police, witnesses say

A girl friends said is 14 years old was arrested at this smoke shop shown here moments after the incident on Aug. 13, 2018. Witnesses said San Francisco police officers slammed the girl against the ground and a car and she went limp. She was transported from the scene in an ambulance. less A girl friends said is 14 years old was arrested at this smoke shop shown here moments after the incident on Aug. 13, 2018. Witnesses said San Francisco police officers slammed the girl against the ground and a ... more Photo: J.K. Dineen / San Francisco Chronicle Photo: J.K. Dineen / San Francisco Chronicle Image 1 of / 15 Caption Close Teen girl slammed unconscious during arrest by San Francisco police, witnesses say 1 / 15 Back to Gallery

The arrest of a juvenile girl Monday afternoon on Market Street led to a tense standoff between dozens of police officers and witnesses who accused law enforcement of using excessive force in apprehending the girl, who they say went limp after police slammed her into the ground and a car.

The incident took place around 1 p.m. when officers entered Downtown Smoke and Vapes store at 1072 Market St. Witnesses at the scene said police brought the girl out of the store handcuffed. She was struggling and resisting when they slammed her — first against the sidewalk and then into a car, witnesses said.

Several witnesses said the girl “went limp” and “lost consciousness” during the arrest. A video shot from an office building across the street shows emergency medical personnel putting a white bag, known as a “spit hood,” over the girl’s head before strapping her onto a stretcher and putting her into an ambulance. Before that, the girl was propped sitting against a fire hydrant and did not appear to be moving.

Police did not immediately explain why the hood was used.

“They slammed the girl into the car, and when they let her up she was completely limp,” said Eric Dyer, a witness who lives near the smoke shop.

Friends of the girl at the scene said she is 14 years old.

Police spokesman Office Joseph Tomlinson said that the girl was wanted on a warrant and “resisted arrest” while she was apprehended. She was taken to the hospital with “non life-threatening injuries,” he said.

Confirmation of the girl’s age and information on what she was wanted for was not immediately available.

Ben Assiter, a tourist from London, said the police presence was overwhelming.

“There were 15 cop cars here in about 15 seconds,” he said. “I’m from London. I was surprised to see such a response.”

Market Street was blocked off for about 30 minutes after the incident. A row of police officers stood between the angry crowd and the smoke shop, where investigators were interviewing witnesses. Several members of the crowd that gathered shouted anti-police slogans and demanded the names of the officers involved in the incident. One onlooker who was shouting at police was handcuffed but not charged.

Witness, David Sherman, said the force used by police was excessive.

“When they brought her outside, they slammed her against the car and hit her in the face,” he said. “They could have killed her.”

The smoke shop is in a row of retail shops beneath the Islamic Society of San Francisco. It sits on a transitional block of Market Street next to a 300-unit luxury apartment under construction at 1066 Market St.

J.K. Dineen is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: jdineen@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @SFjkdineen