Police Blotter – February 20, 2015

[Reprinted from The Richmond Police Station Newsletter of February 20, 2015. To be added to the station’s mailing list, email sfpdrichmondstation@sfgov.org.]

SFPD Richmond District Police Station
Weekly Update 02-20-2015
Captain Simon Silverman

RECENT INCIDENTS:
CAPTAIN’S NOTE: I don’t include every call for police service in the weekly list of recent incidents (there were 771 this week). Instead, I select incidents that are noteworthy and that illustrate current trends in the Richmond Police District.

BURGLARY FROM A GARAGE
Clay & Cherry
02-12-2015 @ 5:00 PM to 02-13-2015 @ 4:00 PM
An unknown suspect stole two bicycles from a garage

ARREST: SHOPLIFITING & MISDEMEANOR WARRANT
Clement & 9th Ave
02-13-2015 @ 10:35 AM
The manager of a store detained a 40 year old man for shoplifting and called the SFPD. Responding officers found that the suspect also had a warrant for shoplifting. He was booked at County Jail.

MENTAL HEALTH CALL
Geary & 40th Ave
02-13-2015 @ 4:02 PM
A distraught person went to her neighbor for help because she wanted to harm herself. The neighbor called 911 and officers took the person in need of help to the hospital.

BURGLARY
Balboa & 3rd Ave
02-13-2015 @ 5:00 PM to 02-17-2015 @ 8:15 AM
An unknown suspect entered through an unlocked door and stole two computers.

ARREST: MISDEMEANOR WARRANT
Point Lobos & 43rd Ave
02-13-2015 @ 5:05 PM
A 911 caller reported a person casing the area to break into cars. Responding officers detained the suspect but found that no cars in the area had been broken into. The officers arrested the suspect for a theft warrant from Sonoma County and booked him at County Jail.

ATTEMPTED BURGLARY
Anza & 23rd Ave
02-13-2015 @ 6:15 to 6:45 PM
A resident returned home to find that someone had damaged his door in an attempt to gain entry, but had not actually broken into the house.

ARREST: FELONY WARRANT
Cabrillo & LaPlaya
02-13-2015 @ 6:23 PM
Officers met with a person who told them that he was on probation and might have a warrant for his arrest. A records check revealed that he was correct on both counts and they booked him at County Jail.

THEFT FROM A BUILDING
California & Cherry
02-13-2015 @ 8:00 PM to 02-14-2015 @ 10:00 AM
An unknown suspect stole soap, a soap dispenser, paper towels and a paper towel dispenser. The stolen property was found nearby, but the suspect made a clean getaway.

VANDALISM
Geary & Commonwealth
02-14-2015 @ 1:00 PM to 02-15-2015 @ 11:04 AM
An unknown suspect etched graffiti into the windows of a business.

ARREST: MISDEMEANOR WARRANT
Presidio & Post
02-14-2015 @ 3:00 PM
SFPD officers served an arrest warrant on a battery suspect from a previous incident and booked her at County Jail.

ARSON OF A PORTABLE TOILET
California & 10th Ave
02-14-2015 @ 3:07 PM
An unknown suspect lit a portable toilet on fire. A nearby car was damaged and the portable toilet was destroyed.
CAPTAIN’S NOTE: Portable toilets are a common target for arsonists. I will leave it to the reader to insert his own joke or Freudian theory here.

BURGLARY OF A RESIDENCE
Cabrillo & 15th Ave
02-15-2015 @ 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM
The residents returned home to find that an unknown suspect had damaged their door to gain entry. Jewelry and cash were stolen.

MENTAL HEALTH CALL
02-15-2015 @ 3:06 PM
Geary & 41st Ave
A woman called 911 and told the dispatcher that she wanted to jump in front of traffic. Responding officers know this person from numerous mental health calls and took her to the hospital.

MENTAL HEALTH CALL
02-15-2015 @ 6:26 PM
Geary & 8th Ave
A concerned person called the SFPD because he saw an elderly woman who appeared to be lost and confused. Officers quickly reunited the 96 year old woman (suffering from dementia) with her daughter.

THEFT: DOOR TO DOOR SALES SCAM
Anza & 20th Ave
02-16-2015 @ 7:00 PM
Two suspects knocked on a resident’s front door and told him that they were selling magazine subscriptions for a charitable organization. The resident invited them in and they talked for about 20 minutes. He went into another room to write them a check. After they left, he discovered that his wallet was missing.
Suspect 1: Black male, 25-30 years, 6’2” 190lbs, white polo shirt, black tie, black cargo pants
Suspect 2: Black male, 25-30 years, 5’11” 190lbs, white polo shirt, black tie, black cargo pants
CAPTAIN’S NOTE: Never invite a stranger into your home. Very few legitimate charitable organizations still engage in door to door fundraising. If you have doubts about a door to door solicitor, don’t answer the door. Call the SFPD.

MENTAL HEALTH CALL
Cabrillo & 42nd Ave
02-16-2015 @ 1:02 PM
A citizen discovered an agitated person hiding in her unlocked car and she called 911. Responding officers found the adult male to be disoriented, disheveled and unresponsive to basic questions. They took him to the hospital.

BURGLARY
Arguello & McAllister
02-16-2015 @ 6:15 to 8:00 PM
An unknown suspect entered an apartment and stole a laptop and cash while the resident was out.

MENTAL HEALTH CALL
Fulton & 18th Ave
02-16-2015 @ 6:48 PM
Officers responded to a call from a person who said that she was having suicidal thoughts. They took her to the hospital.
CAPTAIN’S NOTE: This is the same person from the mental health call on 02-15-2015 at Geary & 41st Ave.

BURGLARY FROM A GARAGE
Post & Pierce
02-17-2015 @ 2:00 AM to 6:00 AM
An unknown suspect stole two bicycles from a garage.

ARREST: MISDEMEANOR WARRANT
02-18-2015 @ 2:46 PM
MLK & Bowling Green (Golden Gate Park)
Officers investigated a suspicious person who turned out to have a warrant for his arrest. They booked him at County Jail.

PICKPOCKET
Geary & Arguello (on the 38 MUNI bus)
02-18-2015 @ 5:15 PM
An unknown suspect stole a wallet from inside the victim’s purse as she was riding the crowded bus.

ARREST: THEFT FROM A LOCKED VEHICLE, POSSESSION OF COCAINE / DRUG PARAPHERNALIA, & FELONY WARRANTS
Fulton & 9th Ave
02-19-2015 @ 6:25 AM
A resident came out to his car to find a person inside stealing his belongings. He called 911 and responding officers detained the suspect (along with a nearby companion). The main suspect was arrested for stealing from the car, possession of crack cocaine, possession of a pipe used for smoking the crack, and felony warrants for theft. The companion was not involved in the current theft, but had a theft warrant of his own and was also arrested. Both suspects were booked at County Jail.
CAPTAIN’S NOTE: Recently passed Proposition 47 changed simple possession of cocaine from a felony to a misdemeanor.

SUSPICIOUS PERSON
McAllister & Stanyan
02-19-2015 @ 6:45 AM
An alert neighbor called 911 when she saw a suspicious person climb over the fence of the house across the street and peer into the windows. She was particularly concerned because she knew that the same home had recently been burglarized. Officers conducted an extensive search of the area but did not find the suspect.
Suspect: Black male adult, 5’10” 170lbs, black hooded sweatshirt, black pants, black shoes with white trim.
CAPTAIN’S NOTE: This is an excellent example of neighbors looking out for each other.

ARREST: WEAPONS POSSESSION & RESISTING ARREST
Fulton & 30th Ave
02-19-2015 @ 7:25 AM
A citizen approached the suspect (who was throwing trash on the ground) and asked him not to litter. The suspect brandished a weapon at the citizen and then ran away when the citizen called 911. Responding officers detained the suspect. As they tried to handcuff him, he threatened them, tried to pull away, and pushed an officer. Once the suspect was under control, officers found a 7” dagger in his possession. He was arrested on all charges.

ARREST: MISDEMEANOR WARRANT
Kittredge & Golden Gate
02-19-2015 @ 2:15 PM
A USF Public Safety Officer detained a suspect who had been involved in a recent theft and had returned to the campus. SFPD officers responded and found that the suspect had a misdemeanor warrant for theft. They booked him at County Jail.
CAPTAIN’S NOTE: This is the fourth case this week where a suspect detained for theft also had theft warrants or was already on probation for theft charges.

ARREST: VANDALISM
Divisadero & Post
02-19-2015 @ 9:50 PM
A citizen saw an adult male spray painting graffiti on several buildings and mailboxes. She called 911 and stayed on the line with the dispatcher while watching the suspect from a safe distance. The information she gave steered the officers right to the suspect who was still standing next to a freshly defaced mailbox with a can of spray paint sticking out of his pocket. He was arrested for vandalism.
CAPTAIN’S NOTE: This 911 caller did everything right. She called right away, she stayed on the line with the dispatcher, and she kept a safe distance while continuing to tell the dispatcher what was happening.

NEXT COMMUNITY MEETING:
Tuesday 03-17-2015 @ 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
E-mail: SFPDRichmondStation@sfgov.org
Twitter: @SFPDRichmond