[Reprinted from The Richmond Police Station Newsletter of July 2, 2010. To be added to the station’s mailing list, email sfpd.richmond.station@sfgov.org.]
CAPTAIN RICHARD CORREIA’S MESSAGE
On July 1, 2010 Officers responded to JFK Drive at Transverse Drive in Golden Gate Park on a call of a dog attacking pedestrians. They arrived on the scene and found two people that had been attacked by a pair of dogs. One victim suffered serious injuries to her legs and the other suffered a deep bite wound on his ankle. Both victims were transported to a local hospital by ambulance for emergency treatment.
Officers responded from other districts to assist with a search for the dogs. We were assisted by Golden Gate Park Rangers and Officers from Animal Care and Control. During the search Officers located one quickly and the animal, a boxer-pit bull mix, was captured. The second dog, a fifty pound pit-bull, was located a short time later on a nearby trail. When this dog approached an officer in a menacing manner, and after a non lethal intervention failed, the officer was forced to shoot the animal. Even after being struck with a bullet the dog resisted the Animal Care and Control officer and struggled for some time. The animal ultimately gave up his struggle and walked to the Animal Care and Control van.
Our officers did a tremendous job in their response to this very serious incident. They closed off the affected area of the Park to prevent further injuries, saw to the prompt treatment of the victims and eliminated these vicious animals as a threat to our community. We are attempting to locate the owner of these unlicensed animals as part of our investigation. One victim remains hospitalized.
During the past week, there were 27 traffic accidents, 8 involving injuries. There were 2 arrests for driving under the influence.
NOTEWORTHY ARRESTS
On 06/25/10 at 4:50 pm an officer on foot patrol was flagged down by a MUNI driver at Geary & 6th Avenue . The driver told the officer that two kids that had just exited the rear door had been vandalizing the interior of the bus with graffiti. The officer detained two male juveniles. The driver, as well as a passenger on the bus, told the officers that the males had tagged the windows and placed stickers on the ceiling of the bus. They were charged with vandalism. The two juveniles were part of the group that had been detained on 06/23/10 for vandalizing a MUNI bus at 33rd Avenue and Geary.
On 06/29/10 at 1:40 am a male and a female victim were walking in the area of Geary and Arguello. A suspect, who was with five other males, made a derogatory comment and the female victim told him to shut up. The group followed the victims and the suspect grabbed the victim’s hat from her head. The victim grabbed the suspects arm in an attempt to get her hat back and the suspect pushed her several times. The male victim stepped in to separate the two and the suspect punched him several times. As this was going on, the female dropped her purse. One of the other males in the group fled the scene. The officers detained the main suspect, aged seventeen years, and he was charged with theft and battery.
On 07/01/10 at 2:15 am a victim was walking on Geary near 18th Avenue . A suspect who was standing outside a bar smoking said to a victim as he passed, “F**K the Red Sox!” The victim, who was wearing a Red Sox hat, ignored the suspect and kept walking. The suspect then called the victim a name and the victim said, “Don’t call me that”. The victim continued on his way and the suspect followed then punched him in the face. The 25 year old suspect was charged with battery.
NOTEWORTHY INCIDENTS
Between 06/25/10 and 06/28/10 a suspect broke into a lock box affixed to the front of an apartment building on the 300 block of Locust. Inside the box was the key to the building’s garage which the suspect used to gain entry and take a bike.
On 06/26/10 at 4:20 am a resident of a home on the 3800 block of Clement Street awoke to the sound of his backyard gate being opened. The resident looked out the window and saw two suspects carrying two of resident’s bicycles out of the yard. The resident woke his father who shouted out the window to put the bikes down and then ran to the front of his house. The suspects had fled the scene, leaving the bikes behind. The suspects were described as males in their 20’s, one wearing a black hooded sweatshirt and blue jeans with a red pattern on the pocket.
On 06/26/10 between 3:30 pm and 11:30 pm on the 7300 block of Geary Boulevard a suspect entered into a residence by prying open the garage door. The suspect took clothing, hats, jewelry and a video camera.
On 06/27/10 at 1:30 am the victim was walking on 11th Avenue near California Street . A green Honda stopped near him and two suspects exited the car. The suspects asked the victim for money and, when he said he had none, the suspects pushed him against a wall and started to pat him down. The victim punched one of the suspects. In response the suspects threw the victim to the ground and struck him in the head. The suspects took the victim’s cell phone and ran back to the Honda. The victim ran to 11th Avenue & Geary to call 911. The victim sustained minor injuries.
On 06/29/10 between 12:00 am and 6:55 am on the 3700 block of Geary a suspect threw a bicycle lock through the glass door of a business, causing the glass to completely shatter. The suspect then entered the business and opened the cash register and tip jar. Neither of them contained any money and the suspect fled the scene.
I applaud the officers for some GREAT work in getting the dangerous situation under control. Unfortunately it takes an incident like this to bring attention to this issue. It would be great to see some ongoing spot checks instead of just efforts after an incident and on the streets not just in the park. Sorry bad owners make it harder for all the other great doggies out there.