San Francisco Police Commander Jack Hart Talking Points and Briefing Book
Friday, September 12, 2025
OIS Town Hall Remarks
Introduction
The Officer Involved Shooting (OIS) discussed in this presentation occurred on Thursday, September 4th, 2025, at approximately 11:19 am on the Northbound U.S. Route 101 Highway at the Cesar Chavez Street/ Potrero Avenue off ramp in the Bayview Police District.
A San Francisco Sheriff’s Deputy observed a male walking northbound on the freeway shoulder. The Deputy pulled over to contact the subject. San Francisco Police Officers in the area, on a call that was later determined to be related to the subject on the freeway, stopped to assist. The Officers contacted the male who produced an edged weapon and an OIS occurred.
In this presentation, you will hear the following police terminology and radio code language commonly used by officers:
• “A” Priority are calls for service that involve serious incidents. These are emergency calls that require a rapid response because there may be an immediate threat to life or a substantial risk of major property loss or damage.
• RP is reporting party.
• 603 is a prowler.
• 10-8 is in service for calls.
• OIS is an Officer Involved Shooting.
• Dispatch is the Department of Emergency Management Dispatcher and Radio Communications System.
• BWC footage refers to body worn camera footage
The precise chronology of this incident is currently under investigation. We are still in the very early stages of ongoing investigations that can take months to complete, and our understanding of the incident may change as additional evidence is collected and reviewed.
The times presented are approximate. The following is a summary of the events as they are understood today and may evolve as further information is learned through the investigation.
As of September 12th, 2025, we believe the facts are as follows:
(Incident Narrative)
1) On Thursday, September 4th, 2025, at 11:08 am, Dispatch received a call for service on the 200 block of Holladay Avenue regarding a prowling subject on top of a house. The caller stated that she heard noises on her roof and then saw the subject walking away in her backyard. The 911 caller described the subject as a white male, 30’s, skinny build, wearing a black hoodie and black pants.
2) At approximately 11:18 am, SFPD Officers from the Ingleside Police District (3H14A), assigned as backup officers to the prowling call, were exiting the 101 northbound freeway at the Cesar Chavez Street off ramp when they observed a Sheriff’s Deputy walking up the off ramp towards a subject who was walking on the shoulder of the freeway. The Officers stopped their vehicle on the off ramp and contacted the subject. The remainder of the following interaction took place on the side or shoulder of the freeway.
3) Officer #1 initiated dialogue with the subject on the freeway, while Officer #2 repositioned the patrol vehicle.
4) Officer #1 approached the subject and asked, “You alright?” The Officer continued, “Come over here. Let’s get….cars. Let’s go over here.”
5) As the subject approached Officer #1, you can hear Officer #1 say “what’s that?” Officer #1 pointed toward an object that the subject was brandishing in his right hand. The object, held as an edged weapon, was raised level with the side of his head.
6) The subject then quickly advanced towards Officer #1. The subject made several downward stabbing motions with the edged weapon as he charged at the officer.
7) While surrounded by freeway traffic both to his front and side, Officer #1 quickly retreated from the armed subject in the gore point area between the roadway and the offramp where uninvolved motorists continued to travel. Officer #1 turned back toward the subject and the subject continued advancing toward him with the edged weapon in hand.
8) The subject was ordered, “Hey! Drop it! Drop it!” Officer #2 discharged his firearm and the OIS occurred.
9) After the OIS, officers continued to issue commands for the subject to drop the weapon. Moments after, the subject complied.
10) The officers rendered emergency medical aid, including the application of a chest seal.
11) San Francisco Fire Department Paramedics responded and transported the subject to a local hospital for further medical treatment.
Additional Information
The original prowling call that 3H14A responded to, was located on the 200 block of Holladay Avenue, which is in close proximity to where the OIS occurred. Holladay Avenue runs parallel to the Southbound lanes of 101 (on the western edge of the freeway). Unknown to the officers at the time, at approximately 11:10 am, the California Highway Patrol (CHP) dispatch received multiple 911 calls reporting a subject who had fallen from the retaining wall on southbound 101. One of the callers indicated that the subject was in possession of scissors. The subject then crossed all lanes of southbound freeway traffic, jumped the center divider, and continued across all lanes of northbound freeway traffic.
While the investigation remains ongoing, preliminary information suggests that the subject in this incident is likely the same individual connected to both the prowling incident and the CHP related calls.
Subject
• Serrato, Juan Antonio
• Date of birth: 08/21/1985
Evidence
• Crime Scene Investigators from the San Francisco Police Department Forensic Services Division responded and collected evidence from the scene, including, but not limited to the following:
o 1 .40 caliber fired cartridge casing
o Edged Weapon (Scissors)
Video Footage and Photographs
• Officers on scene were wearing department issued body worn cameras. The BWC worn by Officer #1 captured the OIS. In attempting to review the BWC for Officer #2, it was discovered that the camera was powered on and in buffering mode. Officer #2 attempted to activate the camera, but was unsuccessful. As such, his BWC did not record audio or video of the event.
• The Independent Investigations Bureau (IIB) is an independent unit, within the San Francisco District Attorney’s Office, that investigates and reviews all officer-involved shootings. Any relevant video footage or photographs can be provided to IIB by calling (628) 652-4420 or by email at [email protected].
• Anyone with information is encouraged to call IIB at (628) 652-4420.
The Involved Member
The SFPD Patrol Officer who discharged his firearm in this incident, referred to as Officer #2 in this presentation, is:
• Officer Michael Scott, who is assigned to Ingleside Station.
Training
The officer who discharged his department issued firearm completed Active Shooter/Violent Intruder Training. Both officers completed Crisis Intervention Training (CIT).
Active Shooter/Violent Intruder is a 20-hour California POST certified training course developed by the San Francisco Police Department’s Field Tactics Force Options Unit. This course builds on critical decision-making based on the information known at the time. This course utilizes force on force exercises and reality-based scenarios to induce stress and therefore increase each student’s inoculation to stress.
CIT is a 40-hour California POST certified course which prepares officers to respond to persons in crisis incidents and, as a team, formulate a plan, establish rapport, and use de-escalation tactics (including tactical repositioning and creating time and distance), wherever possible, to safely resolve incidents.