San Francisco man allegedly assaults parishioner at church, tosses 'improvised device' at police during chase

San Francisco police said there are no reports of injuries or property damage from the pursuit

A San Francisco man allegedly assaulted a parishioner at one of the city's churches on Sunday before throwing an unknown object at officers during an ensuing police pursuit.

An unidentified man arrived at Saints Peter and Paul Church before service on Sunday and took communion before allegedly assaulting one of the parishioners and being chased out of the church, the pastor told local TV station KGO-TV.

Police responded to the 600 block of Filbert Street at about 5:52 p.m. after receiving a report of an assault. Officers located the suspect, who fled in a vehicle to avoid arrest.

MAN WHO CRASHED INTO SAN FRANCISCO'S CHINESE CONSULATE WAS ARMED WITH KNIFE, CROSSBOW

san francisco man allegedly assaults parishioner at church tosses improvised device at police during chase

An unidentified man arrived at Saints Peter and Paul Church in San Francisco before service on Sunday and took communion before allegedly assaulting one of the parishioners and being chased out of the church. (Jessica Christian/San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images)

During the pursuit across the Bay Bridge and into the East Bay, the suspect threw an unknown object at officers through the car window, KGO-TV reported. Police described the tossed item as "suspicious devices."

The suspect set off a pipe bomb in the 1500 block of Jones Street and ignited a "molotov cocktail" on 8th Street between Market and Mission, city supervisor Aaron Peskin, who was briefed on the incident, told The San Francisco Standard.

PROGRESSIVE COMMENTATOR CALLS OUT SAN FRANCISCO AS ‘TERRIFYING’ ‘NIGHTMARE’: YOU'RE GOING TO GET ROBBED'

The pursuit continued onto the freeway, where California Highway Patrol units took over and eventually arrested the suspect.

A spokesperson for CHP told KGO-TV that the suspect did not throw anything from their car after the agency took over the pursuit. However, CHP did discover items inside the suspect's vehicle during the arrest.

san francisco man allegedly assaults parishioner at church tosses improvised device at police during chase

A San Francisco man allegedly assaulted a parishioner at Saints Peter and Paul Church on Sunday before leading a police pursuit. (iStock)

San Francisco police said there are no reports of injuries or property damage in connection with the police chase.

The public has been asked to avoid the area of 8th and Mission streets and the 1500 block of Jones Street.

Authored by Landon Mion via FoxNews October 29th 2023