Man Who Attacked Parishoner, Detonated Bombs In SF, Identified

America is in the grips of a mental health crisis, and it’s manifesting on the streets of our cities. In San Francisco, residents are constantly confronted with the unhoused wandering the streets to the point of desensitization, and in recent years, utter contempt. In the suburbs surrounding San Francisco, mental health problems are hidden behind the walls of the single family home or the multitude of low-rise apartment complexes that sprawl for miles in the furthest reaches of the Bay Area’s suburban valleys. 

Last week, I reported on Joseph David Emerson, a Pleasant Hill man, who, under the influence of mushrooms, allegedly attempted to crash a plane that was flying from Portland, Oregon to San Francisco. According to recent reports, Emerson was suffering a mental breakdown or a “bad trip,” and in his own words, was trying to crash the plane because he thought he was “dreaming” and just wanted to “wake up.”

However, there was more than just a “bad trip” at play here. Emerson was returning from a weekend with the family of his best friend who had died unexpectedly five years prior. He had also explained to his wife that he was suffering from depression, but couldn’t take time off from work because he had a mortgage to pay, and didn’t want to deal with the complications of seeking help. 

And now, this week, we’re talking about Daniel Garcia, the man who attacked a fellow parishioner, detonated bombs on the crowded streets of North Beach, and led SFPD on a thirty-mile chase to Martinez before ultimately being apprehended by police. 

This isn’t the first time Daniel Gracia has used bombs. Daniel Garcia was convicted of blowing up the SUV of a tenant in Fairfield, California. Yes, Daniel Garcia was a landlord. He also had convictions of domestic violence, among other things. 

You may be asking yourself “what does Daniel Garcia and Joseph David Emerson have in common?”

Well, in my opinion, a lot. Both Daniel and Joseph lived in Contra Costa County, both were likely less than a 15-minute drive from each other, and both were failed by the system, albeit in different ways. By many accounts, Joseph was an overworked pilot in Pleasant Hill who neglected his mental health because he didn’t want to fall behind. 

Daniel Garcia, a man who allegedly blew up a fucking car over a tenant dispute, was charged criminally, which I understand, but did anyone happen to wonder what kind of mental health issues would prompt such an over the top response? Probably not. 

Our worlds are more connected than we realize. One man’s mental health crisis could be your fiery death on a plane or your beating at the hands of a psychopath armed with explosives. No one seems to think about this shit until it happens to them or someone they know.

And I know these people, we all do. I don’t know them personally, but we have them in our lives. We know the archetypal Joseph David Emerson, and Daniel Garcia. We know the dude who is clearly depressed and loaded with obligations that get in the way of addressing it. We also know someone who responds violently to stupid shit, and you always have that sneaking suspicion that one day, it could grow into something far more sinister than just a bar fight with minor injuries or damage to property. 

The problem is, we never prevent it, we just gossip after the damage is done. 

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