Police Blotter – January 23, 2015

[Reprinted from The Richmond Police Station Newsletter of January 23, 2015. To be added to the station’s mailing list, email sfpdrichmondstation@sfgov.org.]

MESSAGE FROM THE STATION
It’s a scenario that happens hundreds of times a day at amusement parks all across the world. You’re walking along with your family or group, young child in hand, but when you look down a minute later, alas, he or she is gone! You suspect they’ve run off into the large crowd and begin to panic.

How to avoid the panic
Before you go, explain to your children what they should do if they get separated at any time from you or their guardians.

Tell them to find a uniformed park employee and explain to them that they have been parted from their group. Make it clear that it is NOT okay to ask or follow strangers for help, even if they do look friendly. Have them explain to the employee (or security officer) their name, your names and where they got lost.

Write your mobile phone number on a sticker and fix it to the inside of their shirt. If you don’t have a sticker, write it on paper and put it in their pocket. Tell them to give it to a uniformed staff member if they get lost.

Use your camera or cell phone and take a picture of your children when you arrive at the park. This way you will have a current picture with you.

Make sure everyone in your group, including parents and older siblings, are wearing the same bright, recognizable clothing. Bold orange or yellow shirts will work fine for this purpose. Avoid wearing dark colors as these will make you and your children blend in easily with the crowd, and avoid putting your child’s name on it. This will make it easy for strangers to call them out and take your child with them.

Bring along a way to communicate with your kids. You can give older siblings a cell phone (just make sure they know your number). Younger kids can benefit from the use of a walkie-talkie to keep in touch with you should they get lost. Show them how to use it and explain that it is not a toy, but a way to reunite if you do get separated.

Find a place to designate as your ‘meeting spot’ if someone from the group is separated, once you arrive at the amusement park. Crowded, commonly designated areas like the front gates of the park or at a bench next to a popular attraction are not good meeting spaces as they will be very crowded at all times of the day and relatively unsafe for a young child to be sitting at alone. Instead, choose a less popular area to meet up, like at the security booth or next to the restaurant where you plan to eat. This will make it easier to find a lost child.

Our next community meeting is Febuary 17th, 2015 at 7:00 PM.
Location: Richmond Station Community Room (Location Subject to Change)

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NOTEWORTHY ARRESTS & INCIDENTS
(Regarding some of the incidents in the weekly newsletter. We are not always able to give a full or complete account of what has occurred. We do not want to furnish information about ongoing investigations which may be prejudicial or interfere. We do our best to give a general overview of incidents within the district.)

On January 15, 2015 at 12:10 AM, Officers Mariano and George were on patrol in the area of 4th Avenue and Geary when they observed a vehicle with non-working tail lights. The officers initiated a traffic stop on the vehicle and contacted the driver. The driver was unable to produce a driver’s license and a computer query revealed he had never been issued one in California. The driver was cited for multiple violations

On January 15, 2015 at 8:20 AM, Officers Joshua and Canedo were on patrol in the area of Lake and 12th Ave. when they were cut off by another vehicle traveling eastbound on Lake Street. The officers initiated a traffic stop on the vehicle and contacted the driver. The officer requested the driver’s license and a computer query revealed it had been suspended in 2014. The driver told the officers he did receive a notification from DMV but was “too busy to go to the DMV to deal with it.” The officer cited the driver for both violations. The driver then telephoned the officers later in the day to say that he went to the DMV to take care of his paperwork. The DMV removed the suspension from the driver’s license.

January 15, 2015 at 1:56 PM, Officer Downing along with other Richmond units responded to the 100 block of 25th Ave. regarding a reported robbery. Police dispatch broadcast a description of the two suspects in this incident, but the responding officers were unable to locate them. The victim said she had been walking on 25th Ave. towards Lake Street when she “sensed” somebody approaching her from the rear. The 1st suspect said “give me your phone and your wallet,” but the victim clenched them closer in an effort to retain them. With the assistance of the 2nd suspect an iPhone, iMac PC and purse were forcibly removed from the victim and both suspects fled on foot towards El Camino Del Mar and into the Presidio. The victim attempted to give chase but eventually lost sight of both suspects. The victim in this incident was uninjured and the investigation continues…

On January 15, 2015 at 11:24 PM, Officer Wheeler was on patrol in the area of Fulton and 41st Ave. when he observed a black Camaro with expired registration. The officer initiated a traffic stop on the vehicle and contacted the driver. A computer check revealed that the driver’s license was suspended and the driver was cited for both violations.

On January 16, 2015 at 8:30 AM, Officer Joshua responded to the 700 block of 3rd Avenue regarding a burglary the previous night. The victims in this incident stated they parked their vehicles in the garage at 6 PM the previous evening and discovered the garage unlocked at 8 AM on the 16th. Both victims searched the contents of the garage prior to calling the police and discovered a variety of items were missing including bicycles, helmets, a snowboard and a toolkit. Officer Joshua examined the scene and while there were no signs of forced entry did discover latent evidence at the scene. The investigation into this incident continues…

On January 16 at 5:33 PM, Officer Kulstad responded to the 2500 block of McAllister Street regarding a burglary report. The victim in this incident stated that at about 1:30 am that morning she thought she heard footsteps coming up her stairs from the garage and walk around the kitchen area of the house. The victim believed that possibly one of her children was making the noise. The victim called out to the person making the noise multiple times without a response. The victim woke her husband who then conducted a search of the house and the outside area but was unable to locate anyone. At the time of this report the only loss indicated by the victim was a laptop computer she was unable to find. The investigation continues…

On January 16, 2015 at 11:32 PM, Officer Schor was patrolling the 2400 block of Sutter Street. Officer Schor saw a vehicle double parked and blocking traffic on the block so the officer contacted the driver regarding the violation. During his contact the officer observed one of the passengers was not wearing a seatbelt and he smelled the distinct odor of marijuana coming from the inside of the vehicle. During the course of the officer’s narcotics investigation, he discovered numerous items of clothing and fashion accessories with their security tags still attached. None of the occupants of the vehicle were able to provide any receipts for the individual items located within the vehicle. One suspect took off running in an attempt to escape but was captured a short time later. A computer check on the suspect revealed that he had an outstanding felony warrant for his arrest. As a result of officer Schor’s “routine” traffic stop, thousands of dollars worth of merchandise was recovered, one suspect was booked at County jail and two possible suspects were identified. The investigation into this incident is ongoing…

On January 17, 2015 at 12:50 PM, Officers Ferretti and Macaulay responded to the area of 50 Hagiwara Tea Garden Dr. in Golden Gate Park regarding a report of a male cutting a lock on a bicycle and then cycling away. The two officers quickly found the suspect and discovered he was in the company of a second individual. The officers detained both subjects and other Richmond units responded to assist. During the course of their investigation the officers discovered wire cutters, locks and other indicia on both subjects. During this time, officer Magayanes responded to the De Young Museum to interview the witness in this incident and was then approached by two victims regarding the stolen bicycles. The witness was able to identify the suspects and the victims were able to identify the bicycles which were returned to them. Both suspects were booked into County jail on various charges.

On January 18, 2015 at 7:53 PM, Officers Finigan and Mariano responded to the 200 block of 21st Ave. regarding a Street robbery with a knife. Multiple SFPD units also responded to the scene to assist in locating the suspects. The victim had a laceration on her left hand between the thumb and index finger. Medical assistance was immediately requested to the area as responding officers rendered first aid. The victim stated she was riding a Muni Bus alone and when it reached 6th Ave. two females got on the bus. The victim used her iPhone while on the bus and got of the bus at 22nd Ave. and Geary with two suspects following. One of the suspects approached from behind and put her arm around the victim’s neck while producing a six-inch knife in her other hand. The 2nd suspect in this incident acted as a lookout during the robbery. The victim struggled with the suspect who was holding her in an effort to retain property. It was during the struggle that the victim obtained the laceration to her hand. The suspects fled from the scene with the victim’s shoulder bag which contained a variety of items. The investigation into this incident continues…

January 19, 2015 at 9:26 AM, Officer Brandenburg responded to the 3000 block of Jackson Street regarding a burglary of a residence under construction. The victim stated he had locked his toolbox which was on the first floor at 3 PM on the 17thand when he returned at 7 AM on the 19th he discovered that the box had been broken into. A variety of construction tools were stolen during this incident and the investigation continues…

On January 19, 2015 at 5:50 PM, Officer Stephens observed a vehicle on Bush Street with expired registration the officer initiated a traffic stop and contacted the driver. A computer check revealed the driver had a suspended license. The driver was cited for multiple violations.

On January 20, 2015 at 11:20 PM, Officers Faynshteyn and Tyler were on patrol in the area of Geary and 7th Avenue when they saw a vehicle drive through a solid red light. The officers initiated a traffic stop on the vehicle and contacted the driver regarding the violation. A computer query revealed that the driver had driving restrictions placed on his license due to a prior violation. The restriction only allowed the driver to operate his vehicle to and from work and when he was asked, the driver stated he was doing neither. The driver was cited for operating his vehicle outside the restrictions and for running a red light.

On January 21, 2015 at 5:20 PM, Officer Flannery was on patrol in the area of St. Joseph’s Avenue when he observed a vehicle with non-working tail lights. Officer Flannery conducted a traffic stop and contacted the driver who was unable to produce a California driver’s license, a computer query revealed that the driver (who has lived in California for 10 years) has never possessed any license. The driver was cited at the scene for multiple violations.

On January 21, 2015 at 6:10 PM, Officer Stephens was on patrol in the area of Arguello and Geary when he saw a red Toyota Camry double parked on Arguello Boulevard blocking the bicycle lane. Officer Stephens contacted the driver and a records check revealed that the driver has been suspended from driving for the past three years. The driver was cited for multiple violations.