[Reprinted from The Richmond Police Station Newsletter of March 16, 2012. To be added to the station’s mailing list, email sfpd.richmond.station@sfgov.org.]
CAPTAIN ERIC VINTERO’S MESSAGE
Traffic Issues:
The Richmond District has seen a significant increase if traffic accidents this week due to the weather. Fortunately, there have been no serious, or life threatening injuries. Many crashes are caused by driving too fast for current conditions. The first and foremost tip: SLOW DOWN. Vehicles simply can’t stop as fast, or turn as accurately on wet pavement. Prepare in advance by leaving early, allowing yourself plenty of time to get where you’re going. Check to see that your windshield wipers are in good condition. Remember to keep your headlights on anytime you have your windshield wipers on continuously (it’s the law).
This Saturday is St. Patrick’s Day. Richmond Station Officers will be conducting extra traffic enforcement in the District to ensure public safety and to reduce the number of intoxicated drivers on the roadway. Attached are some interesting DUI facts related to the consequences of a DUI arrest. (From the SFPD website, Avoid the 14 campaign):
– A DUI conviction can cost you $7,000 or more in fines, penalties, jail costs, and storage fees. Your insurance company will raise your premium; maybe even cancel your policy.
– If your blood-alcohol level is .08 or above, the Officer will take your driver’s license away on the spot. Anyone with a driver’s license is presumed to have given consent to law enforcement to conduct chemical testing of the driver’s blood or breath.
– The Officer will issue a 30-day temporary license endorsement. This allows the DMV to suspend your license.
– If you refuse to take a test or fail to complete a test, your license will be suspended for one year.
– Are you under 21? If your blood-alcohol level is .01% or higher, your license may be revoked or suspended.
– On your first conviction, you will serve at least 96 hours to six months in jail, then three to five years’ probation
Please remember to drive defensively at all times, wear your seat belt, don’t drink and drive, and reduce your speed when on slick pavement.
The next Richmond District community meeting will be held at Richmond Station on Tuesday, March 20, 2012 at 7pm. Part of the program will include the SFPUC to gather information from our Community:
The San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC) is making investments to improve the sewer system and we want to hear from the public. The Sewer System Improvement Program (SSIP) is a collection of projects needed to keep the system working well into the future. Over the next several years, the SFPUC will carefully evaluate the sewer collection system, using a watershed based approach, to understand challenges and possible project solutions. The SFPUC team will be gathering information from the public to better understand storm water and sewer issues in each of San Francisco ’s watersheds (e.g. neighborhoods). We want to know what happens in your block, neighborhood or place of business. This information will help us make better decisions about how to improve the sewer system while we strive to make the city and its neighborhoods safer and environmental sustainable.
NOTEWORTHY ARRESTS
On 03/11/12 at 2:15pm, officers responded to a call of a MUNI bus driver that had been assaulted by a passenger on a bus that was at Fulton and 43rd Ave. As the officers arrived the suspect exited the bus and was detained. The driver told the officers that the suspect had boarded at 43rd and Fulton put money in the till, which wasn’t enough to cover the fare. The suspect demanded a transfer and when the driver told him he hadn’t paid enough, the suspect reached over the driver’s compartment and tried to grab for a transfer. The driver tried to stop him and the suspect lunged at the driver, striking him in the face. The suspect then grabbed several transfer and went to the rear of the coach. The suspect, a 64 year old male was charged with battery.
NOTEWORTHY INCIDENTS
On 03/09/12 at 5pm on the 200 block of Stanyan, the resident was in his garage loading up his vehicle with the garage door shut. As he opened up the garage door he observed the suspect exiting his front gate. The victim said that the suspect was not carrying any items, but as he inspected the area he saw that his bike had been taken from the area behind the locked gate. He hadn’t heard any noises from the front prior to going down to his garage. The suspect was described as a male, 30-40 years of age, wearing a black jacket and brown overalls.
Between 03/09/12, 10pm and 03/10/12, 10:10am on the 300 block of 16th Ave, a suspect gained entry into a multi-
unit garage and broke into two vehicles parked inside. The suspect took tools, an Ipod and sunglasses. The door may have been left open by a tenant.
On 03/10/12 at 12:14am, a fight broke out in a bar on the 4600 block of Geary Bl. The victim and his friend were playing pool when another patron got into an argument with the friend. A glass went flying and struck the victim in the head, causing a laceration. The fight moved from inside to the sidewalk outside and the 5 suspects fled the area.
On 03/10/12, at 12:30pm, the victim was walking on 27th Ave near Cabrillo. The suspect came from behind her
and snatched her purse from her shoulder and fled south on 27th Ave into Golden Gate Park . The victim was uninjured and reported it one hour after it occurred. The suspect was described as a male, 6’2”, 200 lbs with black hair and blue jeans.
On 03/11/12 at 1:22am, the victim and her friend were walking on Post near Scott St when they heard footsteps running up from behind them. The suspect appeared in front of them and grabbed the victim’s purse from her wrist. They tried to give chase but lost the suspect as he fled south on Scott St . The suspect was described as a male, 25-30 years of age, 6’0”, 175lbs wearing a black hooded sweatshirt and blue jeans.
On 03/12/12 at 6:10am, a resident of an apartment building heard one of the garage doors open, and then shut. She did not hear the sounds of a car starting and thought it was unusual. She went down to investigate and saw the suspect standing in the middle of the garage. The resident then saw that the doors to her own vehicle were open and the interior light was on. She also noticed that the suspect was holding her motorcycle helmet which had been stored in a bag in the garage. The victim confronted the suspect and asked what she was doing. The suspect replied “Nothing” and exited the garage. The victim checked her vehicle further and saw that she was missing two Ipods and two pairs of ski goggles. The suspect was described as a female, 20-30 years of age, with dreadlocks or matted down hair.
On 03/13/12 at 12:45pm, an employee of a church was assaulted by a homeless male who had come in to use the washing machine, which is a service the church provides. The employee stated he was explaining the rules when without provocation the suspect punched the victim in the head, causing him to fall backwards on the floor. The suspect fled in and unknown direction. He was described as a male, 45 years of age, 6’0”, and 180 lbs with blonde hair. He was wearing a white shirt and blue jeans.