San Francisco police have identified three suspects who were arrested Thursday in connection with an attempted homicide, and auto burglary. They also released a video showing a plainclothes officer as well as a suspect accomplice being backed over by a suspect vehicle.

The incident happened just before noon at Hayes and Pierce streets near Alamo Square Park, where police were conducting an auto-burglary operation.

Police say a plainclothes officer, who was on a bicycle, noticed a black four-door Infiniti with paper plates and tinted windows that had three occupants inside, pulled up to a parked Toyota SUV belonging to tourists from Florida.

When the officer witnessed the suspects smash the rear window of the SUV, they moved in to make arrests.

Police said two suitcases were stolen and one of the suspects got back into the waiting Infiniti with the stolen property. Police tried to apprehend another suspect standing behind the Infiniti while ordering the suspect driver to stop the car.

The video shows the suspect putting the car into reverse and backing over both the officer and the accomplice as he was being taken into custody. The driver then put the car in drive and ran the officer and accomplice over again.


Another officer can be seen hitting the car with his baton after the two people had been run over twice. The driver fled and was involved in a traffic collision at the 200 block of Haight Street, while another suspect was captured at the 600 block of Buchanan, police said.

Three men, all from San Francisco were arrested and taken to San Francisco County Jail. Their booking photos were not released.

Devonta Lofton, 25, was booked on felony charges of attempted homicide, assault with a deadly weapon, assault upon a peace officer with firearm, second degree burglary, reckless evading, hit and run causing injury, conspiracy and misdemeanor driving with a suspended license.

Adrian Landers, 23, was booked on felony attempted homicide charges, assault with a deadly weapon and multiple other assault charges in addition to second degree burglary, a parole violation and misdemeanor possession of burglary tools.

Jamon Butler, 19, was booked on felony attempted homicide charges, assault charges and second-degree burglary.

On the surveillance video, at least one officer is seen on camera with his weapon drawn and pointed at the suspect driver but he shows restraint in compliance with the police department's Use of Force Policy.

The San Francisco Police Officer's Association released a statement Thursday where President Martin Halloran expressed frustration with the constraints of the Use of Force revision that bars police officers from shooting at moving vehicles or from their own police vehicles, except in cases of extreme circumstances.

That sentiment was reiterated Friday in a SFPD-issued press release that said, “This incident is stark reminder of the dangers faced by SFPD officers on a daily basis. What began as a property crime turned quickly into a violent assault that could have had deadly consequences to our officers. The driver’s actions also endangered the lives of the accomplice and the public at large,” said Deputy Chief Michael Redmond. “

The victim officer is an 11-year veteran of the department and is currently assigned to the auto burglary abatement program out of the Northern Station. He was taken to a hospital with injuries considered to be non-life threatening.

According to police, the suspect who was run over by his accomplice, was taken to the hospital for injuries consistent with crushing type trauma.

While an arrest has been made, this remains an open and active investigation. Anyone with information is asked to contact the SFPD 24 Hour Tip Line at (415) 575-4444 or Text a Tip to TIP411. You may remain anonymous.