[Reprinted from The Richmond Police Station Newsletter of May 27, 2010. To be added to the station’s mailing list, email sfpd.richmond.station@sfgov.org.]
CAPTAIN RICHARD CORREIA’S MESSAGE
I have received several photographs lately via email of individuals engaged in what senders perceived as unusual behavior. Photographs are of course helpful in solving crimes, such as when a witness snaps a photo of license plate of a fleeing felony vehicle. And while I don’t have a single rule as to when one might want to photograph criminal behavior, I do have some things I want you to consider.
Use your cell phone first to call the police and second to take a photograph. Your personal safety is paramount and choosing to confront someone you think is engaged in criminal behavior carries a risk that things may escalate violently and quickly. A sergeant a long time ago commended to his officers that before jumping into fray they should put out the call for help, less things could get a whole lot worse before they getting any better. You can call 553-8090 to reach San Francisco 911 from your cellular telephone. Calling 911 works also, however, if you are near a freeway or highway your cellular call may be first automatically routed to the CHP’s dispatch center.
Second, photographs depicting equivocal behavior coupled with emails that infer things as untoward don’t always help much but scare folks a lot. If the officers are called they can quickly determine the nature of activity and accurately quantify the risk to the community.
That said, we do appreciate and need your partnership to prevent crime and apprehend perpetrators. In fact, your involvement in the quest for a safe community is the sine qua non (“that without which not”) of the endeavor. Just please be careful!
In a sidewalk armed robbery that occurred recently we had several witnesses call the police immediately and provide valuable information about the perpetrators. I believe that arrests are likely in the case and I will fill you in on the facts just as soon as officers have the perpetrators are in custody.
Please join us at our next Police Community Relations Forum at Richmond Station (461 6th Avenue) on June 15, 2010 at 1:00 PM. I addition to the our crime briefing and public safety update, we will hear from Park and Rec officials about a proposal to add new recreational amenities at the western end of Golden Gate Park.
During the past week, there were 23 traffic accidents, 6 involving injuries. There were 9 citations issued for driving without a license or driving on a suspended license. There was 3 arrests for driving under the influence.
NOTEWORTHY ARRESTS
On 05/20/10 at 1:35pm an officer was inside a school in the Richmond District conducting an investigation. As the officer looked out a window saw a male juvenile outside with a backpack in his hand. The suspect reached into the backpack and pulled out what appeared to be a handgun. The officer saw the suspect place the weapon in the front waistband of his pants. The officer called for additional units and then detained the suspect in front of the school. The gun turned out to be a BB gun which had the orange tip painted black. The suspect was also in possession of metal knuckles. The 17 year old male was charged with possession of the BB gun and metal knuckles and released to his father.
On 05/20/10 at 9:50pm an officer was in his patrol car at 6th Ave and Geary. The driver of a 38 Geary MUNI began to wave at the officer and flash the vehicle’s headlights. The officer entered the bus and the driver told him that there were several young adults seated in the back that were “tagging” the bus with graffiti. The officer walked towards the back and the driver pointed out the 20 year old suspect. There was fresh graffiti on the ceiling and interior walls of the bus. The suspect was charged with vandalism and possession of a narcotic.
NOTEWORTHY INCIDENTS
On 05/22/10 at 3:23pm a male walked into a business on the 3500 block of California Street . He stood near a display of phones and the clerk who was helping another customer asked if he needed assistance. Suddenly the suspect ran out of the store and the employee realized the suspect had cut the security cord that had been attached to an I-phone and had fled with the phone. The suspect was described as a male, 20-25 years, scruffy facial hair, wearing a gray jacket and black beanie cap.
On 05/24/10 at 10:05am a victim was sitting in a café on the 1000 block of Clement St . The victim had placed her iPhone on the table as she was eating her lunch. The suspect then entered the café, walked over to the victims table and grabbed her phone and ran out. The victim and a witness gave chase and saw the suspect run north on 11th Avenue and get into a waiting vehicle. The victim realized that when she ran out of the café she had left her purse behind and when she returned, her purse was missing. The suspect was described as a male, 20-25 years, wearing a dark gray jacket and blue jeans. His female accomplice, who apparently took the purse, was wearing a pink top and blue jeans. The vehicle was described as a black four door sedan.
On 05/25/10 at 2:20pm two victims were sitting together at a table in a coffee shop on the 3100 block of Geary Boulevard. Each of them had placed their cell phones on the table. The suspect entered the coffee shop and reached over one of the victims and grabbed both of their phones from the table. The suspect then fled to Cook Street where he got into a waiting vehicle that was driven by a female. The suspect was described as a male 20-30 years of age wearing a black hooded sweatshirt with white lettering on the front. The vehicle was described as being small.
On 05/24/10 at 11:15pm officers were sent to speak with a victim of a robbery that was being treated at a nearby hospital. The victim, who did not want to cooperate with the officers, said he was walking on Fulton Street when a person demanded his property. The victim said he immediately ran east on Fulton then realized he had been shot in the arm. The victim then phoned a friend who picked him up in a hired taxi and took him to the hospital.
The victim’s reticence to cooperate hampers our investigation: however, we intend to determine everything that happened in this case.
On 05/25/10 at 8:15am, on the 2900 block of Jackson Street a victim went into her garage which she shares with two other tenants. The victim noticed that her bike and one belonging to another tenant were missing. It appeared that a burglar had cut the cable locks that had secured the bikes. The suspect had gained access into the garage by breaking the lock on a side door. The victim told the officer that she had heard strange noises coming from the garage between 2:30am and 3:00am. At 2:20pm, the same officer responded to call of a found bike on the 2100 block of Broderick. He contacted the victim who responded and identified the bike as hers.
On 05/25/10 at 7:56pm a victim was walking to a friend’s vehicle that was parked in the area of Golden Gate and Chabot. The two suspects were walking towards the victim and then surrounded him. The suspect told the victim to give up his cell phone and when the victim hesitated, one of the suspects pointed a handgun at him. The suspects took the victim’s wallet, backpack and laptop. The victim’s friend saw that there was something going on and walked over and said “What are you doing?” The suspect then pointed the gun at the friend. The suspects then fled on foot. Two other witnesses saw the suspects running from the scene and get into an awaiting vehicle. The suspects were described as males in their late teens wearing dark clothing. The vehicle was described as a smaller blue SUV.
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