Pair Accused Of Harboring Police Shooting Suspect In SF Charged With Accessory

SAN FRANCISCO, CA — Two employees at a city-contracted homeless shelter have been charged in connection with helping a man accused of shooting an officer in San Francisco earlier this year, according to authorities.

Erika Porter, 45, and Oliver Barcenas, 36, were charged on Monday with felony accessory, along with resisting, obstructing, or delaying a peace officer, the San Francisco District Attorney's Office said in a statement.

The charges stem from the duo "wilfully and unlawfully" helping Norris Reed III evade law enforcement after shooting an officer on May 31, prosecutors said.

Police say officers pulled Reed over around 10:29 p.m. in the area of Mission and 1st streets in connection with a robbery.

But Reed fled soon after, driving through city streets before crashing in the area of Bayshore Boulevard and Jerrold Avenue, police said.

When officers arrived at the site of the wreck, Reed shot at them, striking one officer multiple times, police said. Police said officers fired back, although it's unclear if they struck anyone.

Reed, according to the police, then ran off and headed to a homeless shelter at 125 Bayshore Blvd.

Officers visited the shelter while searching for the suspect and spoke with Porter, police said. She gave officers false statements to prevent officers from finding him, police said.

There, Barcenas gave Reed clothes to hide his identity, even though he knew Reed was armed with a gun, police said. Security footage from the center shows Barcenas helping Reed, police said.

Despite the new clothes, officers located Reed after receiving a call saying he was inside the gate of the navigation center, police said.

Officers arrested Reed in connection with the shooting and seized two firearms that he had in his waistband, police said.

The injured officer is still recovering from her injuries, but has since been discharged from the hospital, police said.

Officers, meanwhile, secured a warrant for Porter's and Barcenas' arrest, authorities said, adding that they took the duo into custody on Thursday, Aug. 20

The shelter where the employees are accused of helping the suspect is part of a program designed to shelter San Francisco's "highly vulnerable and long-term homeless residents who are often fearful of accessing traditional shelter and services," according to the San Francisco Public Works website. They're called navigation centers.

The workers were not contracted by the city or county, but were employees of a nonprofit organization contracted to operate the center, Deborah Bouck, San Francisco Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing communications manager, said.

The suspect, meanwhile, was neither a client nor a guest at the center, Bouck said.

Prosecutors say the case remains under investigation.