As Ross Mirkarimi awaits his arraignment on three misdemeanor charges of domestic violence, new details regarding a crucial piece of evidence have emerged in a late breaking Chronicle report this afternoon. The videotape obtained by police as part of the District Attorney's investigation allegedly shows Mirkarimi's wife, Eliana Lopez pointing to bruises and explaining that such violence had occurred "two times in 2011, and [the New Year's Eve incident] is the second time this is happening."

According to the affidavit written by an SFPD inspector with the domestic violence unit and obtained by the Chronicle Lopez made the video with the help of her neighbor and Mirkarimi campaign supporter Ivory Madison to use as leverage in the event Mirkarimi attempted to gain custody of their son. "I (have) been telling him we need help," Lopez says on the video. "And I'm going to use this just in case he wants to take Theo away from me because he ... said that he is very powerful and he can do it."

Disrtrict Attorney Gascón hinted that his office had such evidence while announcing the charges against the sheriff last week, but specific details about the contents of the video have been kept under wraps until today. Details of emails and text messages that DA Gascón also alluded to were not mentioned in the affidavit. Earlier Mayor Lee said he has no plans to suspend the sheriff while the investigation is going on.

Mirkarimi has been ordered to stay away from Lopez and his family since last Friday due to a judge-issued protective order, which he described to ABC7's Amy Hollyfield this morning as "crushing."

Previously: Ross Mirkarimi To Face Three Misdemeanor Charges in Domestic Violence Case
Ross Mirkarimi Investigated In Domestic Violence Incident
[Chron]
[ABC7]