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Arraignment Delayed for SF Gallery Owner in Viral Hosing Video

Written by The Standard StaffPublished Feb. 17, 2023 • 10:45am
Collier Gwin, an art gallery owner in the Financial District sprays water on an unhoused individual on Jan. 9, 2023. | Courtesy @briochesf | Source: Courtesy @briochesf

A San Francisco art dealer is expected to enter a plea next month on a battery charge filed after a viral video showed him hosing a homeless woman outside his gallery.

The lawyer for Foster Gwin Gallery owner Collier Gwin appeared in court Friday to ask to push the arraignment to March 23.

The judge granted the request and told both parties to hammer out a protective order by the end of the day.

Gwin posted $2,500 bail shortly after his arrest in the Jan. 9 incident, which took off on social media and sparked widespread outrage.

If convicted, he faces several months in jail and a $2,000 fine.

While little was said in court about the case or Gwin, his attorney said in an email that his client is apologetic and takes responsibility for his actions.

GF Bunting, a PR firm hired by Gwin, also included a mea culpa.

“I’m deeply apologetic and abhorred when I watch that video," it read. "I completely broke. I’m not equipped or trained to deal with a citywide problem like this. I know it’s very hard to watch. I can only ask others to maybe try and understand my breaking point and look at sudden reactions they might have had in their own life and how they may have strongly overacted and now feel so humbled and sorry. There’s a breaking point and I have the video to constantly remind that this is a large cross to bear. My spiritual guide is the serenity prayer and I will find direction, humility and courage by its daily use in my life. I’m committed to making amends and helping others. That’s what I can do and will do. And I thank everyone for at least sharing that with you."

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