Twice-bailed violence prevention advocate captured by SFPD ‘eye in the sky’ after spate of violent robberies of Asian seniors

August 6, 2025

A man accused of violently robbing two Asian seniors while on bail for a series of strong-arm robberies targeting other elderly victims will appear at San Francisco’s Hall of Justice today for a preliminary hearing, having already secured bail in the new case.

Prosecutors say Izear Golden pushed a 77-year-old Asian man to the ground and, along with a juvenile accomplice, stole around $300 from his pocket during a June 10 Civic Center robbery.

An SFPD drone operator identified the suspects two hours later and, while watching them from overhead and directing officers to their location, saw the pair rob another elderly Asian man. This time, Golden is said to have “slapped” a roll of money from the hand of a 73-year-old who later told police that between $15 and $20 dollars in single bills had been stolen from him.

The duo were apprehended minutes later by police.

Golden’s 17-year-old co-conspirator, named as “Amir A.”, is already a ward of the juvenile court.

Golden earlier pleaded not guilty to two counts of robbery, elder abuse and contributing to the delinquency of a minor. Judge Simon Frankel ordered his release on June 30 2025.

Golden was on the streets having been released by visiting Judge Diane Northway after being charged in connection with a horrifying string of strong-arm robberies in December 2023 which still hadn’t been resolved at the time he was most recently caught. He also has an outstanding warrant from San Mateo.

Police arrest Izear Golden and Amir A.

Prosecutors say that Golden was one of two men who attacked and robbed a couple at San Francisco’s Ghirardelli Square on November 25 2023. The male victim was kicked in the chest and robbed of his high-end camera before his assailants escaped in a silver four door Honda.

Six days later, two men are alleged to have attacked a 67-year-old Asian man in Chinatown and robbed him of his car and house keys. The man was punched “four or five times” during the assault after which the suspects escaped in a Honda.

An hour later, at about 1:00pm, a 68-year-old woman was left with a fractured hip and a 2” laceration to her head after she was smashed in the head and then picked up bodily and slammed with two hands against the wall of her own building in Cow Hollow.

The senior had the groceries she was carrying in her bag stolen.

Minutes later police stopped a silver Honda Accord driven by Golden and in which there were two juvenile passengers.

A witness identified the defendant as the attacker of the woman during a ‘cold show’ by police. A court was earlier told that Golden admitted involvement in the other two robberies.

Golden pleaded not guilty to three felony counts of robbery and other charges relating to the incident which, despite their 2023 vintage, have not yet had a preliminary hearing.

“Mr Golden enjoys working to improve his community,” wrote deputy public defender Elizabeth Camacho in motion to have her then-24-year-old client released. “Because he has been a victim of gun violence, Mr Golden works towards keeping guns off the street. He is part of the ‘Batters Up, Guns Down’ program where he plays softball for the Holly Rock Softball Team.”

The court was also told the Golden is a rapper.