Police Blotter – October 4, 2013

[Reprinted from The Richmond Police Station Newsletter of October 4, 2013. To be added to the station’s mailing list, email sfpd.richmond.station@sfgov.org.]

CAPTAIN SHARON FERRIGNO’S MESSAGE
The success of last year’s Hardly Strictly Blue Grass was evidenced by a reduction in overall calls for service during the event. In fact we received fewer complaints than we have in previous years. 80,000 plus persons attended Hardly Strictly Blue Grass each day and we received many compliments from neighbors regarding the improvements made to last year’s concert. I must give credit where credit is due. The staff at Richmond Station work tirelessly to police the event and it would not be possible without the dedication and devotion of all members involved. We would like to thank PAR and the many neighbors and business’s that step up and work together to accomplish this event. Based on this we are looking forward to another successful event this year.

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San Francisco police are alerting the public to a telephone scam involving the demand for payment for what are presented as overdue loan debts, and a telephone scam involving payment for traffic tickets supposedly issued by the San Francisco Police Department. In these calls, often the caller ID is that of the SFPD, showing a legitimate police department number.

In the unpaid loan scam, the caller identifies himself as a police officer, stating that he is acting on behalf of “Mark Rothman & Associates.” To prevent criminal proceedings or a bench warrant being issued, the caller demands an “interim payment.” The caller instructs the victim to purchase a $500 Green Dot MoneyPak or Vanilla Gift card or similar cash-load card as payment and to call a specific number once this is done. Once the victim has purchased the card and called the number, the victim is instructed to give the card information, and a phony proof-of-payment e-mail is sent. Once that information is given, all the money on the card is fraudulently used.

In the unpaid traffic ticket scam, the caller claims to be from the San Francisco Police Department and may even fraudulently use the name of an actual San Francisco police officer. The caller states that there is money due, $154 or more, on unpaid traffic tickets and that a bench warrant will be issued unless payment is received. Payment is demanded through a similar cash-load card process and, again, the money on the card is used.

These fraudulent contacts may also be done through e-mail or pre-recorded calls. As a matter of policy, the police department never contacts citizens for payment under any circumstances, including for outstanding traffic citations or for any civil debt.

Citizens are urged not to comply with such requests, and to report such calls to the police. Green Dot MoneyPak cards and similar cash-load cards have recently been the focus of scam artists throughout the country. Citizens should never provide the card number and security clearance codes to a caller or in response to an e-mail.

NOTEWORTHY ARRESTS
On 09/29/2013, at 12:03 am, Officer Schor was on regular patrol in the area of Divisadero and Pine St. He observed the driver of a vehicle, driving and texting in violation of the vehicle code. He initiated a traffic stop on the vehicle and contacted the driver. While advising the driver of the vehicle the reason for the stop he became aware that the driver may also be driving under the influence of alcohol. When officers tried to continue their investigation the driver started resisting and became combative. The driver refused to assist officers in their investigation and was later booked at the County Jail for D.U.I…

On 10/02/2013, at 10:20 am, Officer Wu was on regular patrol in his assigned area alond the Clement St. Corridor. Officer Wu saw a vehicle fail to stop at a posted stop sign. He then conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle and contacted the driver. A computer query revealed that the driver was currently suspended / revoked and not allowed operate a vehicle. The driver was cited for both violations in this incident.

On 10/02/2013, at 9:45 am, Officer Jew was on patrolling the area of Sutter St. and Steiner St. He observed a vehicle with no front plate attached, which is a vehicle code violation. Officer Jew imitated a traffic stop and contacted the driver regarding the violation. A computer query revealed that the driver was currently suspended / revoked. Officer Jew cited the driver for both violations.

On 09/30/2013, at 2:35 pm, Officer Mariano observed an individual in the area of 28th and Clement St. who is known to him as currently on active probation for narcotics offences. Officer Mariano contacted the individual who he observed trying to discard something which was in his hand. Officer Mariano then saw something drop from the individual’s left hand. Officer Mariano located the item and determined that it was a “Baggie” which contained suspected Methamphetamine. Officer Mariano arrested the suspect who was booked on narcotics and probation violations.

NOTEWORTHY INCIDENTS
On 09/30/2013, at 2:50 am Richmond Officers Andersen and Ivanov responded to the area of 11th Ave and Cabrillo St. regarding a report of a street robbery. The victim was walking in the area when she was accosted by two males. One male blocked the path of the victim while the other one grabbed her and pinned her arms. After removing various items from the victim the suspects fled in an unknown direction. Richmond units conducted a search of the surrounding area but were unable to locate the two suspects. Although the victim was roughly handled in this incident, she remained unhurt and refused any medical attention. The investigation continues…

On 10/01/2013, at 2:14 am Officers responded to a report of an aggravated assault in the area of 20th Ave. and Geary Blvd. On arrival they contacted the victim in this incident who apparently had been struck by an individual with a baseball bat. The victim stated while standing on the street corner there was a verbal altercation between him and the suspect for no apparent reason. The victim stated that as the suspect approached him he saw a knife. Fearing for his safety he ran away and retreated inside a local business. The victim was then followed inside the premise by the suspect who had apparently managed to acquire a baseball bat. The second victim in this incident saw the assault about to commence and attempted to intercede but got hurt himself in the process. The first victim was struck by the bat before the suspect fled in a silver sedan west on Geary Blvd.

On 09/30/2013, at 10:55 pm, Officers responded to the area of Bush St and Broderick St. regarding a reported street robbery involving a gun. On arrival at the location officers contacted the victims who provided descriptions of two male suspects who were also in possession of a semi-automatic handgun. The loss in this incident included two Apple Iphones and other items. Both victims in this incident were unharmed and the investigation continues

On 09/28/2013, at 5:45 pm, Officers on patrol observed a vehicle traveling north on Divisadero St. with a mechanical vehicle code violation. Officers initiated a traffic stop on the vehicle and discovered that the driver was driving with no license issued. The driver was cited for driving with no license issued.