A small business owner in San Francisco was punched in the face by a man after asking him to stop urinating on the street outside his restaurant, according to police.
Peterson Harter, who owns and operates Sandy’s on the city’s iconic Haight Street, told KTVU that he was attacked around 5 p.m. Wednesday after confronting the public urinator.
After hearing an altercation outside with one of his employees, the shop owner stepped out and saw the man, who appeared to be intoxicated, relieving himself.
“I’m not willing to just let someone start urinating in the middle of the street, walking belligerently with a beer in his hand,” Harter said. “That’s just not the right behavior for this city.”
When Harter yelled at the man to stop, the man slugged him in the face: “Didn’t see it coming,” he said.
The blow left Harter with a bruised eye and a busted forehead, he said. He was able to snap a picture of his attacker as he walked away.
Police responded quickly, but no arrests have been made yet.
Harter opened his restaurant — which serves up New Orleans inspired “muffulettas” sandwiches — in the historic Haight-Ashbury just this past April.
He told KTVU that he was initially angry — and not shocked — about the incident, but hopes the incident will spark change as the city continues to suffer from surging crime that forced businesses to close their doors.
“If it takes getting punched in the face and have this conversation and talk about it and bring it to light then it was worth it,” said Harter. “I’m still frustrated but I am optimistic. That’s just who I am.”
Sophia Crosetti, the employee who first encountered the man, said they’ve never seen him in the area before. Crosetti and Harter both live in the neighborhood.
Local customers have steadily filed into the restaurant since the incident to show their support.
“I don’t want him to go to jail. I want him to go do 100 hours of community service, cleaning up the streets in Haight Street,” said Harter.
