Full Breakdown
San Francisco Police Use Excessive Force After License-Plate Typo Leads to Wrongful Arrest and Death of Matthew Ludwig
8/12/2026, 10:02:54 PM
The Arrest and Immediate Use of Force
On July 4, 2024, two San Francisco Police Department (SFPD) officers stopped a Honda Accord at a red light in downtown San Francisco after entering a license-plate number into their computer system. The entered number belonged to a different vehicle, leading the officers to believe the car was stolen. Officer Vinesh Govindbhai smashed the driver’s-side window with a baton, dragged driver Matthew Ludwig to the pavement, and pepper-sprayed him at point-blank range before handcuffing him. Body-camera footage captured Ludwig pleading, “I didn’t do nothing bro,” and later saying he could not breathe while officers promised an ambulance.
Investigation Findings
A May 2025 complaint filed by the San Francisco Public Defender’s Office prompted a review by the city’s Department of Police Accountability (DPA). The DPA concluded that the officers used unnecessary force and violated multiple department policies, including:
- Spraying pepper spray less than the required 4.5 feet from Ludwig’s face.
- Drawing a firearm without justification.
- Conducting a traffic stop and issuing a citation without cause.
The report described the incident as “exceptionally egregious” and noted that the officers only realized the license-plate error after Ludwig was already in handcuffs.
Legal Aftermath and Ludwig’s Death
Despite the DPA’s findings, prosecutors pursued charges of reckless driving and resisting arrest for more than a year. The San Francisco District Attorney’s Office did not drop the case until Ludwig was found dead in September 2025. County-coroner records from Rowan County, Kentucky, list the death as an apparent suicide. Ludwig’s vehicle was impounded, and he could not afford the release fees; the car was later auctioned.
Official Responses
- Brian Cox, head of the Public Defender’s Integrity Unit, said the violence “stemmed from their own mistake” and called for a full investigation and disciplinary action.
- The SFPD declined comment, citing pending litigation, and referred inquiries to the city attorney’s office, which reported no lawsuit had been served.
Broader Context of Police-Use-of-Force Complaints
ABC 7’s data team recorded 15 complaints against SFPD officers in 2025, four in 2024, and six in 2023, indicating a pattern of alleged excessive force that extends beyond Ludwig’s case.
What’s Next
The DPA’s findings will be reviewed by the San Francisco Police Commission in the coming weeks. The commission will decide whether to impose disciplinary measures on the officers involved and whether to recommend policy revisions to prevent similar license-plate errors.
Verbatim Quotes
- “It was actually Mr. Ludwig who was trying to de-escalate the encounter,” — Brian Cox
- “Nothing justifies the amount of violence that SFPD officers used on Mr. Ludwig, especially when it stemmed from their own mistake,” — Brian Cox
- “The officers involved in this have no idea the harm that their actions caused,” — Deputy Public Defender Brandon
