Suspect in SF hit-and-run rampage pleads not guilty, held without bail

SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) — The suspect in a double hit-and-run who allegedly led police on a wild chase through the streets of San Francisco on Tuesday made his first court appearance Thursday. Rodney Jefferson, 54, was charged in connection to multiple hit-and-run incidents in the Tenderloin and North Beach, San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins announced.

Appearing in an orange jail-issue jumpsuit for Thursday’s arraignment at the San Francisco Hall of Justice, Jefferson pleaded not-guilty to all charges. Tuesday’s rampage through the streets of SF resulted in Jefferson being charged with two counts of leaving the scene of an accident, reckless driving with great bodily injury, evading an officer with willful disregard, evading an officer causing great bodily injury, and driving on a suspended license for refusal or high blood alcohol content.

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In one incident described to the court, it was revealed that Jefferson swerved around a car parked near a crosswalk and struck a middle school student who was in the crosswalk. The student, a 14-year-old girl, suffered a broken ankle, dislocated shoulder, and bruise to the head.

That same day Jefferson was allegedly spinning donuts in the intersection of Jones and Market streets when he struck a pedestrian trying to cross the street. Jefferson drove away but returned and threw a $20 bill at the victim before driving away again.

Police engaged in a pursuit, but broke it off due to safety concerns. Jefferson, who was driving a white and blue Mustang GT, was eventually taken into custody near the KRON4 News Studio at Embarcadero and Green streets.

At Thursday’s appearance, prosecutors argued against bail for Jefferson as it was not his first offense. Court proceedings revealed the suspect had 14 prior felony convictions, the most recent in August, 2020. That one was for battery with injury on a school employee.

Jefferson’s defense, however, argued that 11 of the 14 priors were from before 2007.

Those arguments apparently failed to move the judge, who called Jefferson’s actions “egregious” and said be represented a risk to public safety. As a result, Jefferson will be held without bail.

That means he will remain in jail until at least his preliminary hearing on May 22.

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