[Reprinted from The Richmond Police Station Newsletter of May 21, 2010. To be added to the station’s mailing list, email sfpd.richmond.station@sfgov.org.]
CAPTAIN RICHARD CORREIA’S MESSAGE
As all of you know, the 99th running of the Bay to Breakers took place last Sunday. The race itself was a well-managed event and our police resources were adequate to deal with the crowds and traffic issues that presented. The race sponsors provided funding for over fifty officers to police the areas of the race that are in the Richmond to deal with the race and some of the expected zaniness and merriment. However, the day really included two events: the organized race and the miles long street party that followed. The latter seemed to me to be particularly bad this year. In the Richmond the number for drunks roaming around the streets in the park and adjacent neighborhood streets presented us with significant public safety concerns well into the late afternoon. The crowds of raucous drunks, some of whom engaged in felonious behavior, marred this otherwise fun annual event. The problems that we encountered this year will be a significant part of the conversation as we plan for policing and making next May’s 100th anniversary of the Bay to Breakers a safe event.
Please join us at our next Police Community Relations Forum at Richmond Station (461 6th Avenue) on June 15, 2010 at 1:00 PM.
During the past week, there were 26 traffic accidents, 2 involving injuries. There were 3 citations issued for driving without a license or driving on a suspended license. There was 1 arrest for driving under the influence.
NOTEWORTHY ARRESTS
On 05/14/10 at 6:00 pm officers responded to a call of a suspect looking into the windows of parked vehicles in the area of MLK Drive and 7th Avenue. Plainclothes officers were in the area and located the suspect as he was looking into the window of a Honda. They conducted surveillance and after several minutes the suspect fled into the bushes. Another caller then stated that the suspect had fled the area in a red Pontiac. Officers located the vehicle as it was traveling westbound on Lincoln Boulevard from MLK Drive . Officers followed the suspect from a distance and saw the suspect was driving recklessly by running stop signs and red lights. The suspect re-entered the park from 9th Avenue and Lincoln. The officers saw that the suspects’ vehicle had crashed into several parked cars on MLK Drive just west of Tea Garden Drive and the suspect was fleeing on foot. Officers pursued the suspect and captured him while he was hiding under thick foliage. Officers recognized the suspect as being the same person sought in connection with an auto burglary which occurred in April. The 24-year-old male suspect was charged with possession of stolen property and hit and run.
On 05/15/10 at 10:20 pm an officer made a traffic stop on the 200 block of 22nd Avenue. Before the officer was able to exit his patrol car, three of the occupants exited the car and sat on some stairs nearby. The officer noticed the smell alcoholic beverages emanating from the vehicle. The driver told the officer that he had not had any alcohol but that his friends had been drinking. The officer spoke with the three individuals on the stairs and discovered that they were all under 18 years of age. One of the juveniles had a bag that contained several cans of beer. Further investigation lead officers to a BB gun in the interior of the vehicle along with more beer. When the officer asked if there was anything else in the vehicle, the driver said that he had some marijuana in the trunk of his car. The officer asked if there was anything else in the bag and the driver replied, “I have a gun.” When asked if it was another BB gun, the driver replied, “No, it’s a real gun.” Officers found an assault weapon in the bag, which had been stolen in Fremont in November of 2009. The three passengers were released to their parents and the 18-year-old driver was charged with possession of a firearm, possession of narcotics and possession of stolen property.
On 05/16/10 at 2:30 pm officers working the Bay to Breakers Race along JFK Drive were alerted by witnesses that a male had just been assaulted. Officers located the victim who was unconscious and an ambulance was summoned. Witnesses told the officers that the assault appeared to be unprovoked and that the suspect had walked up to the victim and punched him in the face. Officers were provided a description of the suspect and located him a short distance away. Upon seeing the officer’s approach, the suspect began to walk away. When told to stop, the suspect flopped to the ground and lay on his stomach. Officers were able to detain the assault suspect whom was consequently charged with battery with serious injuries. While officers were attempting to place handcuffs on the suspect, another male who was intoxicated, began to yell at the officers. Officers told the male to leave the area and he continued to swear at the officers. Finally after the third time being told to leave, the male complied but after taking a few steps he fell to the ground. When they attempted to detain the intoxicated male for being drunk in public he became belligerent and told the officers to leave him alone. Officers then went to the hospital to interview the assault victim who was also intoxicated and didn’t remember anything about the assault.
NOTEWORTHY INCIDENTS
On 05/15/10 at 12:04am the two victims were walking in the area of Turk & Parker when they noticed a green Toyota drive past them. The Toyota then made a u-turn and pulled up to the corner where the victims were. A female got out and asked the victims, “Where is the party?” One of the victims pointed down the street and told her, “5 blocks that way.” The female suspect then punched one victim in the back of the head and grabbed the hair of the second victim. While pulling on the victim’s hair, the suspect grabbed at the victim’s purse and, when the victim struggled to keep her purse, punched her in the mouth. The suspect then fled with the purse to the waiting Toyota , which was occupied by two males. They fled north on Parker towards Anza. The female was described as being in her late teens, 5’02”, wearing a red and white skirt.
On 05/15/10 at 6:30 pm the victim was walking south on 39th Avenue approaching Anza Street talking on her cell phone. She was grabbed from behind by a female suspect, who held her in a bear hug. A male suspect grabbed the victim’s cell phone from her hand and both suspects fled on 39th Avenue towards Geary Boulevard. The female was 20-25 years and the male was wearing dark clothing.
Between 05/15/10 11:30pm and 05/16/10 2:20am on the 6200 block of Geary, an unknown suspect entered a business by prying open a side door. Once inside the suspect took the cash register and an unknown amount of currency.
On 05/16/10 at 3:15pm officers assigned to Bay to Breakers were alerted to an assault that had occurred on JFK Drive near the Conservatory of Flowers. The victim told the officers that he was trying to find someone with a lighter and approached one of two suspects. The victim put his backpack down and was suddenly punched by one of the suspects. The victim grabbed hold of the one suspect as he was being punched and kicked by others. One suspect hit the victim over the head with a bottle. The suspects fled and the victim realized they took his backpack that contained his laptop and I-pod. The victim was transported to a local hospital for his injuries.