San Francisco roller skating leader accused of abuse after making violent threat

David Miles Jr., the city’s “Godfather of Skate,” has worked for decades to create a positive, all-access roller-skating culture through his landmark Church of 8 Wheels and by spearheading the inaugural Skate Week San Franciso festival, which launched Tuesday with the help of Mayor London Breed.

But a tense public confrontation last weekend at Golden Gate Park has sullied Miles’ reputation within the roller-skating scene. The incident, which culminated in Miles making a violent threat against event attendees, has led skaters to level additional claims of abuse against him and forced him to post a public apology on Facebook that has since been deleted.

In a seven-minute video that was sent to The Standard on Thursday, Miles is seen arguing with an unknown number of people who have been blurred out. At one point, he turns to a member of the group and says, “You know what? I can treat you like a man, and I can beat the living goddamn shit out of you. Which way do you want it?”

In the video, Miles demands respect and expresses rage about people lowering the volume on his stereo system without asking for permission. “If you don’t like the music, go up there, go down there,” Miles yells at the group. “You’re going to go over there touching my stuff, so what? I had somebody here watching it!”