[Reprinted from The Richmond Police Station Newsletter of November 4, 2011. To be added to the station’s mailing list, email sfpd.richmond.station@sfgov.org.]
CAPTAIN KEITH SANFORD’S MESSAGE
On Tuesday, 11/01/2011, our Police Advisory Board had the pleasure of meeting with the Director of Rec & Park, Phil Ginsburg. The Director discussed accomplishments of his department as well as the difficulties with short staffing. Our board expressed concerns of the events in the park and how they affect the neighborhood, traffic and overall safety of the community. The board and Director Ginsburg were mutually in agreement that community groups working with SAFE and city agencies will participate in the two major events next year that being “ Outside Lands ” and “Hardly Strictly Bluegrass”. Our contact person will be SAFE, Morgan St. Clair 415 553 1984.
On Friday, 11/04/2011, approximately 1:45 pm on the 400 block of 9th Ave , a home invasion robbery occurred where two suspects robbed the victims of medicinal marijuana. One of the suspects had been armed with a semi automatic handgun. Both suspects fled the scene with the marijuana as the victims called 911. Numerous officers from the Richmond Police District responded. Solo Motorcycle Officer C. Lyons responded and observed two suspects matching the description of the robbery suspects fleeing southbound on 9th Ave at Cabrillo. The suspects made an attempt to enter a parked red vehicle. Officer Lyons detained the suspects at gunpoint and took two robbery suspects into custody. One suspect possessed a loaded handgun while the second was in possession of marijuana. Excellent arrest by Officer Lyons and responding officers of Richmond Police Station.
Our next PCRF (Police Community Relations Forum) will be on November 15th, 2011 at 1pm and 7pm. The guest speaker for the evening meeting will be a representative from MTA speaking on Red Light Camera Enforcement. The meeting will be held at Richmond Police Station. Refreshments will be served.
NOTEWORTHY ARRESTS
On 10/28 at 10:20am, the owner of a vacant building at 27th and Geary arrived with a contractor to get an estimate for a job. As they entered the building and went up the stairs, someone from above pointed a flashlight at them. Fearing it was a burglar, they left and called 911. Officers arrived and searched the building, finding the suspect hiding behind some cabinets. The owner pointed out several areas of the building where copper wiring and copper tubing had been cut from numerous electrical boxes. Officers located in the suspects backpack numerous burglar tools and narcotics. The 46 year old male was charged with burglary, possession of narcotics and burglar tools as well as a probation violation.
On 10/30 at 2:15am, officers were in the area of 3rd Ave and Geary and saw a physical altercation between two males. While running over to stop the fight, the officers observed one of the males punch the other in the face. One of the officers grabbed the males arm to prevent him from striking the male again and he tried to break free of the officers grasp to go after the other party. The male refused to listen to the officers and they were finally able to detain him. The officers spoke with the victim who has been punched in the face and he told them the other male was his friend and he refused all police action. Both parties were detained for public intoxication.
On 11/01 at 7:15am, plainclothes officers were conducting a follow-up investigation on the 400 block of 28th Ave. They observed a male sitting in a vehicle parked across the sidewalk. The male was wearing a long haired wig, sunglasses and gloves. The officers made contact with the male, who was someone they both recognized from previous arrests. The male was on probation and the officers conducted a search of the male and his vehicle. They located hundreds of lottery tickets and several cameras. The officers contacted the California State Lottery office and determined that the tickets were from a business on the 2400 block of Noriega St in the Taraval District. A Taraval officer responded to that location and met with the owner. They discovered that the store had in fact been burglarized and the suspect had made entry by breaking the glass on the skylight. The owner confirmed that the lottery tickets and cameras had been taken from his store. The 42 year old male was charged with burglary, possession of stolen property, narcotic and a probation violation.
On 11/02 at 2:25am, officers went on a call of a male spray painting the side of a building on the 5300 block of Geary. When the first officer arrived on scene several witnesses began pointing to a MUNI bus and they said the suspect had just boarded the coach. Officers located the male and detained him. The victim also on scene and he told the officers that as he drove up to his building he observed the male spray painting the glass and gate. He confronted the male who initially was apologetic. When the victim’s father came out the suspect became confrontational and threatened the two. The 28 year old male was charged with making threats and vandalism.
NOTEWORTHY INCIDENTS
On 10/27 at 1:45pm, the victim was waiting for a bus at Geary and 28th Ave. There were two other males at the same stop with him. One of them came over to the victim and grabbed him by the shirt collar and said he didn’t like the way the victim looked at him. The suspect then reached in the victims coat pocket and took his cell phone. The males then got on a bus and fled. The victim did not report this incident until the next day. The suspect was described as a male, 15-17 years of age, average build, wearing a gray beanie.
On 10/29 at 1:40am, officers were sent to a call of a fight at 3rd and Geary. They located the victim who was intoxicated and belligerent. He told the officers that he walked out of a bar and saw one of his friends in a verbal argument and attempted to interject. He was then “jumped” by these males and injured his ankle. The male was transported to a local hospital.
On 10/29, at 4pm, the victim was walking on the 700 block of 40th Ave when she was suddenly pushed from behind. This caused the victim to fall to the ground and hit her head. The suspect then grabbed her purse and fled north on 40th Ave. The victim was transported to a local hospital and unable to provide a description of the suspect.
Between 10/30, 4:30pm and 10/31, 9am on the unit block of Parker Ave , a suspect gained entry into a garage and took a bicycle. There were no signs of forced entry.
Between 10/29, 9pm and 10/30, 7:30am in the area of Balboa and 30th & 31st Ave , 7 vehicles had their windows smashed by unknown object.
On 11/01 between 4:00pm and 4:15pm, the victim was on an outbound MUNI bus on Geary between 6th Ave and
25th Ave. When she got home she realized that someone had removed her wallet that had been in her jacket pocket. She contacted her credit card companies and they told her that unauthorized purchases had already been made.
On 11/02, between 9:45pm and 10:45pm, four buildings had their window’s shot at with a BB gun. They are located on the 600 block of Lake, 1100 block of Lake, 4800 block of California and the 300 block of 15th Ave.
On 11/03, at 2:00am, the victim and a friend were walking on the 5300 block of Geary. The passed a group of males and females standing outside of a bar. Someone in the group made a comment to the victim, who said something in return and kept walking. One of the suspects then came over and hit then victim in the back of the head knocking him to the ground. The group then came over and kicked him all over his body, knocking him unconscious. The group then fled in a black BMW. The suspects were described as males, 20-25, wearing dark clothing.
Is there a reason these reports don’t list the names of bars where incidents occur? If a bar is going to cater to groups of young men who might walk over and beat my head in, I’d probably prefer not to go there.
My guess the bars were Buckshot (3rd ave and Geary) and either Nags Head or McKenzies around 17th. It is always “interesting” walking past these latter two on my way to Walgreens. If you are hankering for a good bar in Central Richmond, the Blarney Stone is great.