Man Arrested After Officers Witness Aggravated Assault Near Seventh and Market

Patrol officers working the corner of Seventh and Market streets spotted a woman lying on the ground during their morning rounds March 16 and immediately detained the man walking away from her: Cole Wright, 31, of Oakland.

Wright was booked into San Francisco County Jail on charges of aggravated assault under Penal Code section 245(a)(4) and battery causing serious bodily injury under section 243(d). Officers also discovered he was carrying three active out-of-county warrants at the time of his arrest. The incident unfolded at approximately 8:06 a.m. in the Tenderloin district, one of the department's more heavily patrolled corridors.

While one officer detained Wright as he attempted to leave the scene, others rendered aid to the adult female victim, who was found suffering from injuries on the ground. Paramedics arrived, stabilized her, and transported her to a local hospital, where she was treated for life-threatening injuries. Her current condition has not been released publicly.

Police Chief Derrick Lew credited the patrol officers directly. "This kind of violence will never be tolerated in San Francisco," Lew said. "I want to thank our patrol officers for their excellent police work in taking this violent suspect off the street."

The arrest, documented under SFPD case number 260-147-733, does not close the investigation. The department's release, posted March 17, notes the case remains open and active.

The Seventh and Market arrest is unrelated to a separate Tenderloin assault that turned fatal. In that case, a man attacked around 4:30 p.m. on January 11 on the 300 block of Ellis Street was transported to a hospital with life-threatening injuries and later pronounced dead on a Saturday. Willie Smith, 33, of San Rafael, had been arrested on suspicion of aggravated assault and possession of drug paraphernalia in connection with that attack. SFPD's homicide detail is now leading the Ellis Street investigation, which also remains open and active. The two cases involve different suspects, different locations, and different victims.

Anyone with information about the Seventh and Market assault can contact SFPD at 415-575-4444. Tips can also be sent by text to TIP411; begin the message with the word SFPD. Anonymous tips are accepted.