San Francisco, CA – Today, San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins announced that Melthon Branch (35), was charged with multiple felonies in connection to an incident on July 13, 2026, where an elderly person was seriously injured on Powell Street.

Mr. Branch is scheduled to be arraigned on Thursday, July 16, 2026, at 1:30 p.m., at the Hall of Justice. The District Attorney’s Office will move to have Mr. Branch held in custody pending trial without bail due to the public safety risk he poses.

Mr. Branch is charged with evading an officer causing serious bodily injury (VC 2800.3(a)), leaving the scene of an accident (VC 20001(a)) with an allegation that he personally inflicted great bodily injury on the victim, elder abuse (PC 368(b)(1)) with an allegation that he personally inflicted great bodily injury on the victim and that he personally used a deadly weapon. He is also charged with assault with a deadly weapon (PC 245(a)(1)), battery with serious bodily injury (PC 243(d)), evading an officer against traffic (VC 2800.4), and possession for sale of methamphetamine (H&S 11378).

According to court documents on July 13, 2026, at approximately 8:26 p.m., police saw Mr. Branch riding an electric scooter on the north sidewalk of Ellis Street towards Jones Street. The officer recognized Mr. Branch from prior contacts and knew that he had an outstanding U.S. Marshals Service warrant for his arrest. The officer activated his lights and sirens to conduct a traffic stop and used his public address system to order Mr. Branch to stop. Allegedly, Mr. Branch ignored the officer’s orders and fled riding his scooter on the sidewalk where pedestrians were walking and into the roadway in busy traffic. Allegedly, he then drove his scooter the wrong way for several streets, violating multiple traffic signals along the way. Pedestrians had to move out of Mr. Branch’s way to avoid being struck by him as he weaved in and out of the street and sidewalks.

Allegedly, as Mr. Branch was fleeing northbound on the west sidewalk of Powell Street approaching O’Farrell Street, he drove onto the sidewalk and struck a 72-year-old female with the front portion of the electric scooter. The impact caused the defendant and the victim to be thrown to the ground. The elderly victim sustained a fractured elbow and a broken wrist requiring surgery.

Immediately after the collision, Mr. Branch allegedly stood up and fled on foot, running towards the 200 block of O’Farrell Street, where he dove under a table where restaurant customers were eating and was ultimately taken into custody by San Francisco Police. When he was arrested, officers seized suspected methamphetamine, over $2,000 in cash, narcotics paraphernalia, a digital scale, unused packaging including Ziploc baggies, and three credit cards with other people’s names.

Although charges have been filed, this remains an active investigation. Anyone with information regarding this case, is asked to call the San Francisco Police Department Tip Line at 1-415-575-4444 or Text a Tip to TIP411 and begin the text message with SFPD. You may remain anonymous.

Court Number: 26016439

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