Supervisor Sean Elsbernd wants to make sure anyone who breaks into an enclosure at the San Francisco Zoo is going to face some punishment.
On Tuesday, Elsbernd requested the city attorney review The City’s park code after a man who broke into a bear enclosure had charges against him dropped by a San Francisco Superior Court judge.
“Perhaps it surprised you as much as it surprised me,” Elsbernd said.
He explained that that the rationale behind the decision was that “he was not trespassing because he did not have an intent to stay for a long period of time, and that he did not have an intent to cause harm to the wild animal rather he had an intent to be harmed by the wild harm.”
Elsbernd said the legislative branch needs to step in there and “correct problems presented by the judicial branch.”
“I’m not looking to criminalize, but I think it’s very important that the city send the message animals stay in, people stay out,” Elsbernd said. “That Superior Court decision does not help us with that message.”
