The San Francisco Department of Police Accountability has concluded that two San Francisco Police Department officers used excessive force during a July 4, 2024, traffic stop that stemmed from a mistaken license-plate entry, the San Francisco Public Defender's Office said Monday.
Oversight finds multiple policy violations
The incident began about 11:30 p.m. near Larkin and Grove streets when Officers Vinesh Govindbhai and Jonathan Zepeda began following a Honda Accord they believed was stolen after a license plate was entered incorrectly, according to a complaint filed with the DPA and the Public Defender's Office.
Body camera footage cited in the complaint shows an officer breaking the driver's-side window at a red light, pulling the driver from the vehicle, placing him face down and using pepper spray at point-blank range. The driver, identified as Matthew Ludwig, was placed in handcuffs and later booked on charges of reckless driving and resisting arrest.
- The DPA determined officers used unnecessary force and violated department policies.
- The Public Defender's Office said prosecutors initially did not drop the charges even after the plate error was discovered.
- Authorities say Ludwig died in September 2025; the district attorney later dropped the case.
The DPA's findings, released in March, sustained multiple allegations that Ludwig was subjected to unlawful or unreasonable force, the Public Defender's Office said. That office has called on SFPD leadership and the San Francisco Police Commission to act on the report and implement measures to prevent similar incidents.
"The DPA investigated and sustained multiple police abuses that Mr. Ludwig suffered. I call on SFPD leadership and the city's Police Commission to act on these findings and implement every available measure to prevent future misconduct,"
— San Francisco Public Defender Mano Raju, in a statement accompanying the complaint to the DPA.
Sequence and aftermath
According to the Public Defender's complaint, after officers realized the plate had been entered incorrectly they nonetheless continued with the arrest process. Prosecutors in the San Francisco District Attorney's Office initially pursued charges against Ludwig, the complaint says. The DA ultimately dropped the case following Ludwig's death in September 2025.
The DPA's review relied in part on body-worn camera footage from the officers involved. That footage, the complaint states, documents the forceful removal from the vehicle, the use of pepper spray at close range and officers attempting to assist afterward, including pouring water on Ludwig's face while he was prone.
| Key dates | Event |
|---|---|
| July 4, 2024 | Traffic stop and arrest of Matthew Ludwig |
| May 2025 | Public Defender files complaint to DPA |
| Sept 2025 | Ludwig dies; DA later drops charges |
| March 2026 | DPA issues findings (sustained abuses) |
The Public Defender's office has characterized the episode as an example of how minor errors — in this case a mistyped plate — can lead to severe consequences for people stopped by police. The office is urging the Police Commission and SFPD senior leadership to adopt all recommended changes and bolster safeguards when officers rely on automated or computer-aided checks to confirm vehicle status.
Local implications and questions for the department
The DPA determination puts renewed focus on SFPD policies governing vehicle stops, use of force, and supervisory review. City officials, advocacy groups and oversight bodies will be monitoring whether the department follows through on reforms and disciplinary steps recommended by the DPA. The case also raises questions about how and when prosecutors move to dismiss charges tied to apparent mistakes made during investigative stops.
For San Francisco residents, the episode is likely to revive conversations about accountability, transparency and the checks on police discretion — particularly in moments when officers must decide how quickly to escalate an interaction. The public defender framed the matter as both an individual tragedy and a policy failure that requires systemic fixes.
The San Francisco Police Department and the Office of the District Attorney did not immediately provide additional public comment beyond what was included in the complaint and DPA findings. The Police Commission has the authority to review disciplinary recommendations and to require policy changes; the scope and timing of any formal action will be watched closely by civic and advocacy groups.
This story will be updated as officials release further documents or statements.
