Suspect charged in alleged assault, robbery of Oakland councilwoman

OAKLAND — City Councilmember Rowena Brown said she was punched, choked and dragged by her hair through her downtown Oakland apartment over the weekend by an acquaintance who is now charged with felony counts of assault, robbery and false imprisonment.

Brown’s staff revealed the alleged attack on her social media account Thursday, and said she subsequently sought medical treatment. The council member is “recovering with the support of her loved ones,” the post stated.

The suspect, Ahshatae Millhouse, a 38-year-old Hayward resident, was arrested Tuesday in Livermore. She is being held at the Santa Rita Jail.

Brown said she had been supporting her assailant “through a difficult time.”

On Wednesday, Millhouse was charged by the Alameda County district attorney with three felonies: first-degree residential robbery, assault with force likely to produce great bodily injury and false imprisonment by violence.

Police first responded at 12:42 a.m. Sunday to Brown’s apartment in downtown Oakland, where the councilmember told investigators she had asked Millhouse to leave her apartment, citing the suspect’s “escalating behavior,” court records show.

Millhouse punched Brown twice while approaching the front door, causing the the councilperson to fall to the ground, according to a probable cause affidavit later authored by Oakland police. Then Millhouse dragged Brown by her hair to a living room, where she placed her knee on her neck and pressed down, the affidavit said.

Investigators also suspect Millhouse used her hands to choke Brown, the records show.

At some point, Brown managed to break free and run from the apartment, according to the affidavit. She claimed that Millhouse then left the apartment, but only after taking her purse and two cell phones.

Surveillance footage from Brown’s apartment showed Millhouse running from the apartment while holding Brown’s purse, according to court records.

There were no details of the injuries Brown suffered during the encounter in the records.

Brown, who holds the at-large council seat that represents residents across the city, thanked the Oakland Police Department for its swift response. She asked the public for privacy.

“She remains focused on her recovery and on continuing to serve the Oakland community,” her social media post stated.

Brown’s colleagues on the council and other public figures sent well wishes Thursday in the comments of her social media post.

“Sending you love, healing and support during this difficult time,” Councilmember Janani Ramachandran commented. “You are an incredibly strong person and Oakland is lucky to have your leadership!”

“My God, so sorry to hear this,” wrote Kev Choice, a prominent musician in Oakland. “Praying for a swift recovery, physical and mental healing.”

Brown, elected in 2024 to her inaugural council term, has kept a laid-back profile in her tenure at Oakland City Hall, aligning with the voting majority on major policy decisions.

She ran on an environment-friendly platform that sought to increase funding for MACRO, a city program that provides alternatives to police response in non-emergency situations.

A native of Richmond who graduated from Mills College, Brown previously worked in the offices of state Assemblymember Mia Bonta and former Oakland Councilmember Loren Taylor.

This is a developing report. Check back for updates.