Police Blotter – December 18, 2015

SFPD arrest a suspect on a roof on 47th Avenue. Photo by John G.

SFPD Richmond District Police Station Update
12-18-2015
From Captain Simon Silverman

Here are some recent incidents from the Richmond Police District:

ARREST: PUBLIC INTOXICATION
12/11/2015 7:15 PM
Geary & 12th Ave
A restaurant manager called to report that one of his employees was drunk and harassing the customers. When officers arrived, the intoxicated employee continued to cause trouble and did not take their advice to get a ride home. They arrested him and while in the police car, he kicked at the rear doors and banged his head against the screen that divides the front and rear of the car (that’s why it’s there). Once at the jail, he refused to cooperate with the deputies and persisted in kicking his cell door.

ROBBERY*
12/12/2015 2:35 AM
Pacific & Broderick
The victim was walking when the suspects approached him from behind. One suspect punched him in the face and said, “Give me your wallet!” Fearing for his safety, the victim told the suspects to take what they wanted and leave him alone. They stole his wallet and phone, then ran to a nearby car and drove off.
Suspect #1: Latino male, 20-30 years old, 5’9” medium build, wearing a black beanie and black coat
Suspect #2: Latino male, 20-30 years old, 5’9” medium build, wearing all dark clothing
Suspects’ car: Older model, dark colored vehicle

RESIDENTIAL BURGLARY
12/12/2015 9:00 AM to 7:15 PM
Lake & 30th Ave
The resident arrived home and saw that a window pane next to her front door was broken. Fearing that a burglar might still be inside, she called 911 and waited for SFPD officers. The officers searched the house and found that the suspect was gone along with some of the victim’s valuables.
Captain’s Note: This resident did the right thing by calling 911 and waiting for the officers to search the house.

ARREST: VEHICLE THEFT / FALSE INFORMATION TO A POLICE OFFICER / DRUG PARAPHERNALIA / DRIVING ON A SUSPENDED LICENSE / WARRANT
12/12/2015 2:16 pm
Clement & 26th Ave
The victim left his car unlocked with the engine running while he popped into a store. When he came out, his car was gone. Because his mobile phone was still in the car, officers tracked it to Lincoln near 22nd Ave where they saw the suspect driving the stolen car. Upon arrest, officers found that the suspect had a pipe used for inhaling “crack” cocaine. The suspect gave several different fake names to officers before finally coming clean with his true name. He had a suspended driver’s license and a warrant for… (regular readers can guess what’s coming)… vehicle theft.

ROBBERY
12/12/2015 6:05 PM
Geary & 9th Ave
The victim (a petite 15 year old) was walking home when the suspect came up behind her and demanded, “Give me your bag!” Before she could comply, he forcibly ripped the backpack from her shoulders and ran off.
Suspect: Unknown race male adult, 5’9” 180 lbs, wearing a black jacket

MISSING PERSON / FOUND PERSON
12/14/2105 1:50 PM to 10:01 PM
Geary & St Joseph’s Ave
An 82 year old man with dementia went missing from a hospital waiting room where he was supposed to be waiting for his wife. Officers searched continually for him and eventually found him unharmed at Pier 35. He had been wandering the city for 8 hours.

ROBBERY*
12/15/2015 1:24 AM
Golden Gate & Arguello
The victim was riding his electric skateboard when he was deliberately cut off by the suspects in their car. They got out and suspect #1 punched him in the face then took the skateboard from him.
Suspect #1: Latino male, 18-22 years old, 5’7” 130 lbs, wearing a grey beanie and grey hooded sweatshirt
Suspect #2: Latino male, 18-22 years old, 6’ 170 lbs, wearing a black beanie and a black jacket
Suspects’ car: grey 4 door

SEXUAL BATTERY
12/15/2015 8:05 PM
Balboa & 24th Ave
The victim was walking when the suspect came up behind her, reached around and squeezed her breasts. He pushed her forward, causing her to fall down, and then he ran off.
Suspect: Unknown race male, 5’9” medium build wearing a black hooded sweatshirt and dark pants. The suspect smelled strongly of alcohol.

RESIDENTIAL BURGLARY
12/16/2015 9:00 AM to 6:30 PM
California & 27th Ave
The resident returned home to find that an unknown suspect had entered through a window that she regularly leaves open.
Captain’s Note: Burglars prowl through neighborhoods looking for unlocked doors and windows. Usually, they seek the path of least resistance. If your home is closed up and locked, they may move on to the next house in search of an easier target. You can reduce your chances of falling victim to a thief by locking up.

TRAFFIC COLLISION WITH INJURIES
12/16/2015 5:15 PM
California & 15th Ave
A Toyota was westbound on California Street when the driver failed to yield to a pedestrian who was crossing at 15th Ave. The car struck the pedestrian who suffered significant injuries. A witness reported that just before the collision he saw that the car did not have its headlights on. He flashed his own lights to alert the driver to this fact and to the presence of the pedestrian in the roadway. The driver was cited at the scene.
Captain’s Note: In response to concerns by neighbors, SFMTA traffic engineers are studying this area to look at engineering measures that may help to improve safety.

ARREST: STOLEN VEHICLE / RESISTING ARREST / BATTERY ON A POLICE OFFICER / POSSESSION OF STOLEN PROPERTY / POSSESSION OF METHAMPHETAMINE / WARRANTS
12/17/2015 12:41 PM
Balboa & 47th Ave
A citizen called the SFPD when he saw the suspect park what he (correctly) suspected was a stolen Audi in a private parking lot. When officers approached the suspect (who was sweating heavily and very agitated) he ran a short distance, then turned and charged at the officers knocking them to the ground. The suspect then ran off again, hopping over fences, running through yards and eventually climbing onto a roof where the officers cornered him. After a standoff on the roof, officers convinced the suspect to give up and climb down a ladder provided by our colleagues in the fire department (they rescue cats and cat burglars alike). There was a collection of suspected stolen property as well as methamphetamine in the stolen car. In addition, the suspect had warrants for… (spoiler alert: he’s very consistent)… vehicle theft, possession of stolen property, possession of methamphetamine and burglary.
Captain’s Note: One of our sergeants saw this same suspect in the same stolen car the night before, but the suspect sped off recklessly. Because SFPD policy only allows officers to pursue suspects wanted for violent felonies (and this suspect was wanted for non violent crimes), the sergeant could not pursue the car.

ROBBERY*
12/18/2015 1:20 AM
Clement & 5th Ave
The victim was walking when the suspects approached him from behind. They punched him until he fell down, and then kicked him while he was on the ground. They stole his wallet, watch and phone, then ran away.
Suspect #1: Latino male, 20-30 years old, 6’4”, wearing a grey sweatshirt
Suspect #2: Asian male, 6’3”, wearing a black beanie and black sweater

* We are considering the possibility that the same suspects are responsible for these three robberies.

Next community meeting:
Tuesday January 19th, 2016 7:00 PM
Richmond Station
461 6th Ave.

Contact us:
Richmond Station
461 6th Ave.
San Francisco, CA 94118
415-666-8000
E-mail: SFPDRichmondStation@sfgov.org

A note about authorship:
People keep asking who writes this newsletter. I do. I also do all of my own stunts.
– Captain Simon Silverman