[Reprinted from The Richmond Police Station Newsletter of February 6, 2015. To be added to the station’s mailing list, email sfpdrichmondstation@sfgov.org.]
02-06-2015 Weekly Update
Richmond District Police Station
San Francisco Police Department
RECENT INCIDENTS:
BATTERY & THEFT OF RECYCLING Fulton & 11th Ave
01-29-29-2015 @ 6:00 PM
A resident saw a woman stealing from a curbside recycling bin. The resident followed the suspect and confronted her. The suspect rammed the victim with a shopping cart causing a minor injury. Suspect: Asian female, 30-35 years old, 5’7” 130lbs, wearing a dark colored hat, dark jacket, and navy blue jogging pants
EDITOR’S NOTE: We do not recommend confronting suspects. Call 415-553-0123 for police service or 911 in an emergency.
ARREST: BATTERY Geary & 11th Ave
01-30-2015 @ 12:15 AM
The suspect exchanged angry words with a group of people leaving a bar. He then punched a female in the group with a closed fist and kicked her. At this point, SFPD officers arrived and arrested the suspect.
ARREST: FELONY WARRANT Richmond Station
01-30-2015 @ 12:45 PM
A subject came to the station to make a report when officers recognized him as the person wanted for two counts of aggravated assault in a previous case.
EDITOR’S NOTE: We recommend avoiding police stations if one is a wanted felon who wishes to remain wanted.
MENTAL HEALTH CALL 36th Ave & Fulton
01-30-2015 @ 8:30 PM
Officers responded to a call from family members who reported that a loved one was behaving violently and wandering in traffic. The person was transported to the hospital.
ARREST: DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL 29th & Lake
01-30-2015 @ 9:33 PM
The driver was found passed out behind the wheel of his car in a lane of traffic with the engine running. He showed objective symptoms of alcohol intoxication and refused to submit to chemical testing, which is a violation of California’s implied consent law. This law states that a person who drives a motor vehicle is deemed to have given his or her consent to chemical testing. Officers obtained a search warrant which allowed them to have a certified phlebotomist draw a blood sample for testing. The driver was booked into County Jail.
ARREST: VEHICLE THEFT Golden Gate & Masonic
01-31-2015 @ 4:05 AM
Officers arrested two suspects in a stolen car. There was suspected stolen property in the car and investigators from Richmond Station are following up on this case.
ARREST: THEFT FROM A VEHICLE & MISDEMEANOR WARRANT Geary & 10th Ave
01-31-2015 @ 11:00 AM
Witnesses saw the suspect enter the unlocked car of a person attending a funeral in a nearby church. The suspect stole items from the car then ran into the church where the funeral service was in progress. Officers entered and (quietly) arrested him for the theft plus two misdemeanor warrants.
BATTERY California & 3rd Ave
01-31-2015 @ 12:39 PM
Two adult males got into a mutual fist fight aboard a MUNI bus resulting in minor injuries to both. When officers arrived, neither person wished to press charges.
SEXUAL BATTERY 4th Ave & Cornwall
02-01-2015 @ 1:00 AM
The victim was walking alone when the suspect ran up behind her and grabbed her breast. She screamed and the suspect fled on foot. The victim told officers that an unknown witness was walking in the area at the time. If you are that witness, please call Richmond Station at 415-666-8000.
Suspect: unknown race adult male, 5’7” 140lbs, wearing a dark baggy sweatshirt and dark baggy jeans.
BATTERY Clement & 7th Ave
02-01-2015 @ 1:30 AM
The victim was working security in a bar and attempting to deal with a drunken patron causing trouble. The suspect punched the victim several times and fled on foot. Suspect: White male, 30-40 years old, 5’7” 165lbs, wearing a light gray hooded sweatshirt, blue jeans and red shoes. The suspect has a beard.
ARSON OF A PORTABLE TOILET Lyon & Jackson
02-01-2015 @ 3:55 AM
An unknown suspect lit a portable toilet on fire. Firefighters responded and extinguished the blaze. A nearby car was damaged and the portable toilet was reduced to a molten puddle.
EDITOR’S QUESTION FOR THOSE CONSIDERING A CAREER IN THE FIRE SERVICE: Given this scenario, wouldn’t you rather become a police officer?
MENTAL HEALTH CALL Pierce & Pacific
02-01-2015 @ 5:53 PM
A distraught person told a concerned stranger that he wanted to hurt himself and other people. The concerned stranger called 911. When officers arrived, the distraught person told them that he had been previously diagnosed with psychiatric problems and had just taken methamphetamine. The person was transported to the hospital.
ARREST: FELONY WARRANT Geary & 28th Ave
02-01-2015 @ 7:35 PM
Officers responded to a call of an intoxicated male knocking on the windows of area businesses. They detained the suspect and found that he had a felony theft warrant for his arrest from Alameda County. He was booked for public intoxication and the warrant.
BURGLARY OF AN OFFICE Geary & 17th Ave
02-01-2015 9:00 PM to 02-03-2015 5:00 PM
An unknown suspect broke into an unattended office by damaging the door, and then stole a computer and a bicycle.
ARREST: CHILD ENDANGERMENT & PUBLIC INTOXICATION Geary & Arguello
02-01-2015 @ 10:15 PM
Officers responded to a call of a male wandering in lanes of traffic while carrying a child. They found the intoxicated suspect and his 9 year old son. Based on witness statements and the extreme impairment of the suspect, he was arrested for child endangerment and public intoxication. The matter was also referred to Child Protective Services and the child was released to a responsible relative.
MENTAL HEALTH CALL California & Locust
02-02-2015 @ 8:30 AM
A woman was walking on Locust near California when the subject spat on her. Area residents and merchants have reported that this subject, who is homeless, has been behaving aggressively in the past few weeks. Responding officers found the subject to be disoriented, inadequately clothed for the weather, and suffering poor hygiene. She was transported to the hospital. The woman who was spat upon did not want to press charges.
ARREST: MISDEMEANOR WARRANT Great Highway & Lincoln
02-02-2015 @ 9:06 AM
Officers stopped a car with expired registration. A routine check showed that the driver had a misdemeanor trespassing warrant as well as a traffic warrant for his arrest. He was arrested and also cited for the expired registration violation.
SUSPICIOUS PACKAGE Geary & Arguello
02-02-2015 @ 3:10 PM
A wooden box that was labeled “ammunition for cannon with explosive projectile” was found leaning against a garbage can on the sidewalk. The SFPD Bomb Squad responded and determined that the box was empty.
BATTERY & VANDALISM TO A MOTORCYCLE California & Broderick
02-03-2015 @ 5:18 PM
The victim was riding his motorcycle when another motorcycle cut him off. At a traffic light, the victim criticized the suspect’s driving at which point the suspect dismounted and began punching the victim in the head (although both victim and suspect were wearing helmets). The suspect then kicked the victim’s motorcycle over causing damage. The suspect fled on his motorcycle.
Suspect: Latino male, 6’0” 180lbs, wearing a black T-shirt, blue jeans and blue flip flops
Suspect Vehicle: 2006 Harley Davidson, black
EDITOR’S NOTE: A T-shirt and flip flops are not appropriate riding gear. Safe riders wear a protective jacket and trousers, plus sturdy and supportive footwear at all times – and they don’t attack other riders.
THEFT FROM AN AUTO & BURGLARY 11th & Anza
02-03-2015 9:00 PM – 02-04-215 6:30 AM
An unknown suspect broke into a car parked in the driveway of a house, stole the garage door opener, opened the garage and stole a bicycle from the garage.
EDITOR’S NOTE: We recommend that you don’t leave the garage door opener in the car when parked in front of or near your home.
ARREST: DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL Fulton & Park Presidio
02-04-2015 @ 12:47 AM
The driver ran a red light and was speeding. When officers stopped him, he displayed obvious signs of intoxication and could not complete field sobriety tests in a satisfactory manner. His preliminary alcohol screening result in the field was in excess of 0.12% (0.08% is the legal limit for California drivers over 21 years old). He was arrested.
ROBBERY ON THE STREET Geary & 36th Ave
02-04-2015 1:25 PM
The victim (a 15 year old male) was approached by two suspects who demanded his phone and threatened to shoot him although no gun was seen. One suspect grabbed the phone from the victim’s hand and they both fled on foot.
Suspect 1: Black male 15-18 years old, 5’6”, thin build, wearing a black baseball cap, a dark hooded sweatshirt and dark jeans
Suspect 2: Black male 15-18 years old, thin build, also wearing a black baseball cap, a dark hooded sweatshirt and dark jeans
MENTAL HEALTH CALL 18th Ave & Fulton
02-04-2015 @ 6:55 PM
Officers responded to a woman having suicidal thoughts who had just taken a large quantity of pills. She was transported to the hospital.
TRESPASSER / SUSPICIOUS PERSON 6th Ave & Clement
02-05-2015 @ 7:38 AM
A resident awoke to a noise along the side of his house. He looked out and saw a suspicious person peering over his side fence. When the suspect realized he was being watched, he fled through adjoining yards. Officers used a police dog to search the area for the suspect but did not find him.
Suspect: Black male, 25-35 years old, wearing a black sweater
THEFT California & Locust
02-04-2015 4:40 PM
The victim had her purse in the top section of her shopping cart. She turned away briefly to reach for an item on a high shelf. When she turned back, she discovered her purse had been stolen by an unseen suspect.
BURGLARY OF AN OCCUPIED RESIDENCE Beaumont & Anza
02-06-2015 @ 01:41 AM
The residents were upstairs when an unknown suspect entered through a downstairs window. He stole miscellaneous property and fled on foot. Responding officers set up a perimeter and searched the surrounding area for the suspect but did not find him.
Suspect: White male, 30 – 40 years old, 6’0” 185lbs, wearing a dark zip-up jacket, white T-shirt, and dark jeans. The suspect had a goatee.
STOLEN AND RECOVERED VEHICLES:
STOLEN VEHICLE 32nd & Anza
01-31-2015 – 02/01/2015
A parked and unattended 2004 Volvo X90 was stolen off the street by an unknown suspect.
RECOVERED STOLEN VEHICLE 4th Ave & Fulton
02-01-2015 @ 3:30 PM
A previously stolen 2007 BMW 335i was found parked and unattended.
STOLEN VEHICLE California & Locust
02-02-2015 @ 9:30 PM
A parked and unattended 2007 GMC Yukon was stolen off the street by an unknown suspect.
STOLEN VEHICLE 37th Ave & Fulton
02-04-2015 @ 5:50 PM – 02-05-2015 @ 8:15 AM
A parked and unattended 2013 Mercedes C250 was stolen off the street by an unknown suspect.
STOLEN VEHICLE Spruce & Euclid
02-04-2015 @ 6:30 PM – 02-05-2015 @ 8:15 AM
A parked and unattended 1998 Honda Civic was stolen off the street by an unknown suspect.
RECOVERED STOLEN VEHICLE Euclid & Masonic
02-05-2015 @ 12:16 PM
A previously stolen 2004 VW Phaeton was found parked and unattended.
TRAFFIC COLLISIONS WITH INJURIES:
TRAFFIC COLLISION WITH INJURIES California & Laurel
02-01-2015 @ 1:50 PM
One driver rear ended a car that had stopped at a red light causing minor injuries to the driver of the stopped car. The driver at fault was cited at the scene for following too closely.
TRAFFIC COLLISION WITH INJURIES Balboa & 11th Ave
02-01-2015 @ 3:05 PM
The driver (who was northbound on 11th Ave) stopped at the stop sign, but then proceeded into the intersection when it was not safe to do so and struck a car that was going west on Balboa (where there are no stop signs). Three people were injured; two of them were transported to the hospital. The driver most at fault was cited at the scene.
TRAFFIC COLLISION WITH INJURIES El Camino Del Mar & 25th Ave
02-04-2015 @ 6:54 PM
A car had just stopped at the stop sign facing eastbound on El Camino Del Mar. The intersection was clear and the car began to move forward when a pedestrian suddenly ran northbound across 25th Ave in front of the car and was struck (suffering minor injuries). EDITOR’S NOTE: Although this collision occurred in a crosswalk where the pedestrian would usually have the right of way, that right is not absolute. The vehicle code says that no pedestrian my suddenly leave a place of safety and walk or run into the path of a vehicle that is so close as to constitute an immediate hazard.
TRAFFIC COLLISION WITH INJURIES Pine & Broderick
02-05-2015 @ 12:35 PM
A driver in stop and go traffic was traveling too fast to stop before hitting the car in front of her (causing minor injuries to the other driver). She was cited at the scene for unsafe speed.
TRAFFIC COLLISION WITH INJURIES Balboa & Funston
02-05-2015 @ 1:36 PM
The driver (who was northbound on Funston) stopped at the stop sign, but then proceeded into the intersection when it was not safe to do so and struck a motorcycle that was going west on Balboa (where there are no stop signs). The motorcyclist suffered minor and was transported to the hospital. The driver most at fault was cited at the scene.
CITATIONS FOR UNLICENSED AND SUSPENDED DRIVERS:
CITATION: UNLICENSED DRIVER California & Spruce
01-30-2015 @ 8:02 AM
CITATION: DRIVING WITH AN EXPIRED LICENSE Anza & 3rd Ave
01-30-2015 @ 4:38 PM
CITATION: DRIVING WITH A SUSPENDED LICENSE Geary & 8th Ave
01-30-2015 @ 5:24 PM
CITATION: DRIVING WITH A SUSPENDED LICENSE 2nd Ave & Cabrillo
02-01-2015 @ 5:45 PM
CITATION: DRIVING WITH A SUSPENDED LICENSE Fulton & 33rd Ave.
02-02-2015 @ 3:57 PM
CITATION: DRIVING WITH A SUSPENDED LICENSE 2800 Turk (USF Campus)
02-03-2015 @ 9:40 PM
CITATION: UNLICENSED DRIVER 24th & Cabrillo
02-04-2015 @ 7:21 AM
CITATION: UNLICENSED DRIVER Geary & 4th Ave
02-05-2015 @ 12:35 AM
CITATION: UNLICENSED DRIVER Geary & Wood
02-05-2015 @ 12:35 AM
CITATION: DRIVING WITH A SUSPENDED LICENSE Geary & 9th Ave
02-05-2015 @ 1:19 PM
CITATION: UNLICENSED DRIVER Clement & 3rd Ave
02-05-2015 @ 3:10 PM
NEXT COMMUNITY MEETING:
Tuesday 02-17-2015 @ 7:00 PM
Richmond Station Community Room
461 6th Ave.
CONTACT US:
Call 911 for emergencies
Call 415-553-0123 for non-emergency police service
Richmond Station
461 6th Ave.
San Francisco, CA 94118
415-666-8000
SFPDRichmondStation@sfgov.org
https://twitter.com/SFPDRichmond
https://www.facebook.com/SFPDRichmond
LOVE the new format and the new writer! The touches of humor are appreciated. I especially like how the incidents are broken out by type. Good information.
Thanks for being responsive re. putting back date and time info. And like Cath I enjoyed the editors remarks and the new format, particularly splitting out the license optional types (it’ll be interesting to monitor the numbers – my anecdotal impression is that that number is growing…)
I loved this, too. The editor’s notes were hysterical.
Thanks for making the police report so much fun, despite the whole, you know, report of issues in our hood requiring police!
Love the format and the wit!
Karl, New state law took effect January 1. A friend who is up north told me yesterday that it took 15 minutes to get a DL renewal up in Yreka (while visiting friends) whereas SF DMV has a 2 month appointment wait list. Easier to take care of personal business when away from home.
Thanks for the news update 4thGen – re. away from home, I used to recall Daly City being a lot easier than SF though that’s probably not so much the case any more; once I was able to get the appointment my last SF renewal wasn’t so bad – maybe I should just go the license optional route next time 🙂 (I still don’t quite understand why so many people that do go that route run stop signs, drive without tail lights,… sounds like fodder for the blotter editor)
Can the police do anything about the fact that there is some asshole driving up and down the boulevard on his horrible farting motorcycle in the middle of the night every weekend? I know this is illegal but hard to enforce. But it would be appreciated. Nobody wants to hear your stupid hobby at 1 in the morning, Saturday or not. Signed, probably more people then just myself.
Regarding the first incident (the recycling “thief”)… how long has the “complainant” lived in the neighborhood? Redemption surfing is part of the Richmond District culture!
For shame.
No, shuffling through peoples trash bins is not part of the neighborhood’s “culture.” It is a nuisance.
Kreig, Redemption surfing as you call it is unlawful, in fact criminal, under state law.
The color-coded bins are property of Recology and the content becomes Recology’s once the bins move onto the sidewalk on collection day. Failure to properly sort the content into correctly colored bins is a violation of the contract one enters into when receiving the bins (in the old days people had to buy their own garbage cans from hardware stores). Failure to meet contract terms results in fines from Recology.
It is illegal to maintain an occupied or under construction property, residential or otherwise, without garbage and recycling collection. It is also illegal to operate a business in San Francisco without permits and business licenses, which many of the trucks lacking Recology signage and collecting metal, cardboard and glass do not have. They also do not appear to display any Cal DOT registration numbers indicating they are state licensed (and inspected) for hauling.
Fantastic report!
@4thGenRichmond .. You’re being way too overdramatic, and misrepresenting state law. CA Public Resource Code 41950-41956 covers theft of recyclables from the curb, and explicitly defines it as a civil issue — ie, NOT criminal. It provides only for the collection company to pursue action in civil court.
It also makes it completely clear that the resident has no legal standing to anything once it’s at the curb. Additionally, the law regarding citizen’s arrest in California is not necessarily clear if you even have the right to attempt a citizen’s arrest in this case, but my guess is that it’d treated about the same as placing someone under citizen’s arrest for jaywalking (it’s a similar level of offense). You could ask risk charges of false imprisonment for attempting to hold someone.
For as much as you refer to the pickups that drive around filled with recyclables… I only agree insomuch that they seem really unsafe in their center of gravity. The pickups are also illegally modified to haul more, and it’s the safety issues that are my only concern.
For the people taking recycling out of bins though… let it go. It’s not your property, and given that the cans have been stolen from the bins for years already, it’s not going to further affect collection rates. These days, they never make a mess (that I ever see), and when it takes 20 cans to make them $1, you’re not talking about big money hear. Marginal people eeking out a few extra dollars… move on, concentrate on things that matter.
Straver, I solved the issue of stolen bottles and aluminum cans by ceasing consumption of those types of beverages. My loose tea and coffee grounds are all in the compost bin.
True story: I was walking one day by Fort Miley and saw one of those ladies shuffling through her bags over by the new trailhead around 40th Avenue. She was dumping water out the plastic bottles she had collected and then putting them back in the bag. When I passed back by there were literally twenty or thirty plastic bottle caps amidst all the water, in the park there, and the woman was gone. I scooped them up in my hands and tracked her a block away and said ‘Hey, Ma’am, you shouldn’t just leave this there for someone else to pick up! Other people have to look at this and take care of the garbage you’re creating.’ She was very apologetic and friendly in broken english and offered to take them, so hopefully she gets it and won’t make this a habit. These people have no concept of what a park is, I think – these are probably the same people that constantly leave their garbage and discarded household items all over the sidewalks for someone else to report or dispose of. I think sometimes they think ‘well, someone might want this toaster’ – and maybe someone does. Other times I have seen a free sign in front of a dozen half-full bottles of drano and windex from the 1990’s and a used toilet! The problem areas are the same over and over again. If you ever see someone in the act, they need to be gently reminded that nobody wants to see their crap all over the place – they can go through the proper channels to get it eliminated but it is not acceptable to just randomly leave crap on the street or throw your garbage in the bushes. It isn’t 1960, or 1980 or whatever year this stopped being acceptable. It’s 2015 and we are all persnickety now.
I don’t think the fact that people have been doing this for a decade plus makes it acceptable – it is annoying and unlawful. The rattling glass is the worst to listen to. We put our bins in extra late now to avoid it.
Just put your bins out in the morning.
Going through residents’ recycling is not OK. We had some problems on our block and just got fed up – we, along with a few other neighbors, now take our bins out in the morning as adub suggested and it’s helped quite a bit.
Very much appreciate the police blotter being posted every week. Thank you.
great format of the police report. thanks for the editor’s notes!
LOVE the new format and commentary…keep it up!
I appreciate the discourse here regarding recycling (presenting sides), that part of the report was confusing to me too. I’m so used to it being part of “Richmond Culture” too. I hate it when they are crushing cans for like an hour under your window or when too many of them do it in a night — basically unwanted noise AND it’s not lawful.
My other major complaint regarding recycling is that I’d actually like to get those redemption fees back — I AM RECYCLING — and yet it’s been made so hard to get the fee back that it never happens and I feel tricked into paying those fees via taxes. I rarely buy cans or plastic, but I do it and I don’t like that the OPTION to get the money back is robbed from me when I’m being responsible. So, that’s why these “garbage thieves” exist!
If the humor in the report isn’t coming from the police themselves though, frankly I don’t need it and it’s not adding much, however I think the police themselves can inject some humor to show they are human (particularly considering all the stereotypes they’re suffering these days — so long as it is something they approve of and therefore nothing erroneous or disparaging is being stated toward their efforts. That’s what comments are for. lol.
FYI, the Police Blotter here is exactly what was sent out by the Richmond Dist police station. I’m on their email list and this is the same as the email I got from them. Sarah’s funny, and a good writer, but in this case she posts what she’s sent.
Thank you for the cross-streets. Very much appreciated!
It would be neat to see the weekly blotters in graphic form.
AWESOME new format for the blotter! Love the humor, the details, and suspect descriptions. Does anyone know if the fire department does this? Sometimes when woken at 2am by a parade of 5 sirens/lights on fire vehicles, I’d love to know what & why they were called out!
@Susan, The vast majority of SFFD runs are medical (ambulance calls) and require 3-5 vehicles to transport one person to SF General. HIPPA laws will not provide detail of medical calls. The second largest volume of SFFD calls in our district are motor vehicle accidents, thus many of the 2AM runs follow shortly after last call at watering holes.
Now that the “editor” has made it clear that he’s the Captain, my concerns are gone regarding the humor. I’m grateful for this blog in general, but I would not go so far as to kiss butt regarding writing and humor in other posted articles, not only were there some major faux pas, but far worse was the “censoring” that took place by herself & the editors (preventing comments, particularly after insulting, sometimes NEEDLESSLY insulting detractors); I’m afraid viewing those actions very much changed my opinions and positive outlook, though I stick around.
Nor am I oblivious to their investments getting regular plugging; this isn’t exactly free press or unbiased journalism. lol.