Police Blotter – June 12, 2015

SFPD Richmond District Police Station
Weekly Update 06-12-2015
From Captain Simon Silverman

Next Community Meeting:
Tuesday 06-16-2015 @ 7:00 PM
Richmond Station Community Room
461 6th Ave.

Traffic on Sunday June 14, 2015

There are two events that may impact traffic in the Richmond District this Sunday June 14, 2015. Sunday Streets will result in road closures on MLK in Golden Gate Park and along The Great Highway, and the Haight Street Fair is taking place on Haight Street (that’s why they call me “Captain Obvious”).

Here are some of the incidents that occurred in the Richmond Police District this week:

ROBBERY WITH FORCE
06-05-2015 10:18 AM
Geary & Parker
As the victim was placing her purse into her car, suspect #1 ran up behind her, pushed her and yanked the purse from her grasp as she tried to hang onto it. Suspect #1 got into a car driven by suspect #2 and they drove off.
Suspect #1: Black female, 25-35 years old, 6’ 220 lbs, straight black hair with a brown streak, wearing a white T-shirt and blue jeans
Suspect #2: Black male, between 18 and 50 years old, skinny, wearing a baseball cap.
Vehicle: Newer white Camry or Honda with a spoiler

THEFT OF A BICYCLE
06-05-2015 3:30 PM
Geary & 25th Ave
The victim locked his bicycle to a parking meter and went inside a store. A store employee saw the suspect lift the bike over the parking meter, cut the lock and ride the bike away.
Captain’s Note: For tips on the best way to lock your bike, visit www.safebikes.org

THEFT FROM A LOCKED VEHICLE
06-06-2015 7:00 AM to 4:00 PM
Geary & 37th Ave
The suspect broke a window on the victim’s vehicle and stole items from the glove box including the DMV title (AKA pink slip).
Captain’s Note: Don’t get caught with your pink slip showing. Never leave the DMV title in the car. A thief could forge your signature and transfer title. The vehicle code only requires you to keep the registration card (or a copy of the card) with you while driving the car.

ROBBERY WITH FEAR
06-06-2015 5:16 PM
Cherry & California
A 10 year old boy was walking to the store when the suspect (an “adult” in his 30s) came up behind him and said, “Give me your money or I’ll call the police!” Fearing that the suspect would hurt him, the boy handed over his pocket money and the suspect walked away.
Suspect: White male 30-35 years old, 175 pounds, black hair, brown eyes wearing a grey hat with a black band, a grey jacket and black pants. The suspect did not appear to be homeless.
Captain’s Note: Not much shocks me after 27 years in police work, but this case did.

ARREST: DUI
06-07-2015 12:15 AM
Sacramento & Walnut
Officers stopped a car for driving without headlights on and found that the driver was under the influence.
Captain’s Note: According to a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration study, there is a 55% probability that a person driving with headlights off after dark is a drunk driver. So… lights on when you drive, but don’t drive if you’re lit up.

TRAFFIC COLLISION WITH INJURY
06-07-2015 2:10 PM
Arguello & Fulton
A pedestrian was crossing from south to north in the west crosswalk of Fulton. A Ford turned from southbound Arguello to westbound Fulton and struck the pedestrian who sustained moderate injuries. The driver was cited for failing to yield to a pedestrian.
Captain’s Note: In many collisions where a pedestrian is struck in a crosswalk, the offending car is making a turn toward the crosswalk.

HIT & RUN TRAFFIC COLLISION WITH INJURY / POSSESSION OF A FIREARM
06-07-2015 6:06 PM
Park Presidio & Fulton
Officers responded to a single vehicle collision where a Toyota spun out of control and ended up off the road. The driver ran away leaving his injured passengers behind, along with a 9mm Glock semi-automatic pistol.

ASSAULT / ELDER ABUSE
06-08-2015 9:30 AM
Geary & 36th Ave
The 55 year old suspect was discussing his future inheritance with his 86 year old mother when he became enraged and struck her with a telephone.
Captain’s Note: California law provides enhanced penalties for the physical and financial abuse of a person over the age of 65. In addition to criminal proceedings, we involve Adult Protective Services in every case like this.

ARREST: POSSESSION OF STOLEN PROPERTY / DRUG PARAPHERNALIA / WARRANTS / RESISTING ARREST
06-08-2015 11:08 AM
Jackson & Baker
Officers responded to reports of a person walking down the street, punching vehicle windows and screaming. The suspect ran from them, but they quickly caught him. In his pockets, he had a pipe for smoking crack and two credit cards that had been stolen in a previous incident. The suspect is on probation for auto theft in Alameda County and for drug sales in San Francisco. He had a warrant for violating his San Francisco probation.

ARREST: THREATS / FIREARMS VIOLATIONS / DUI
Lake & 12th Ave
06-08-2015 11:25 PM
The driver of a Jeep cut off another car at Lake & 12th St. The Jeep driver then got out of his vehicle and yelled at the people in the other car. He took a .40 caliber Glock semi-automatic pistol out of his waistband and chambered a round while advancing toward the other vehicle. The victims drove off in fear. Officers located the suspect a short distance away and found that he was intoxicated. He was booked for threats, several violations related to the loaded/concealed firearm (including having a high capacity magazine) and drunk driving.
Captain’s Note: For those of you keeping score at home, that’s the second Glock we’ve seized this week.

TRAFFIC COLLISION WITH INJURY
06-08-2015 2:36 PM
Fulton & 12th Ave
A Honda and a Toyota were traveling east on Fulton in the same lane when the Honda slowed to make a left turn and the Toyota rear ended it. The offending driver admitted that he was not paying attention, and his passenger added that they were having an argument just before the crash. The Honda driver told officers that both people in the Toyota had been looking down at their phones as if texting.
Captain’s Note: It’s unclear if the people in the Toyota were arguing with each other, texting or perhaps arguing with other via text. However, one thing is clear – you are required by law, common sense and common decency to pay attention while driving. I am neither JK nor ROTFL. #citation

TRAFFIC COLLISION WITH INJURY
06-09-2015 11:11 PM
California & Arguello
A pick-up truck was turning from northbound Arguello to westbound California when it cut off a bicycle that was travelling southbound on Arguello. This resulted in moderate injuries to the cyclist. The driver of the pick-up was cited for the unsafe turn.
Captain’s Note: Although primary fault rests with the pick-up truck driver for his unsafe turn, the cyclist did not have a headlight on his bike as required by law during darkness. A good light might have made him more visible to the driver. For tips on safe cycling in our urban environment, check out the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition’s website at www.sfbike.org.

SCAM
06-09-2015 1:00 PM
California & 21st Ave
The elderly victim got a call from a suspect claiming to be her grandson. He told her that he had been in a car accident and needed her to send money. A second suspect got on the phone and told her that he was a public defender and that her grandson had been arrested in Atlanta for drunk driving. He told the victim to wire bail money to “Jose Hernandez” at a Western Union office in the Dominican Republic, which she did. The suspects then called back demanding more money at which point the woman realized that it was a scam and called her grandson who was in Southern California and fine.
Captain’s Note: When someone demands immediate payment through an untraceable, non-refundable means it’s usually a scam. Also, a public defender in Atlanta asking for money to be wired to the Dominican Republic does not add up. Unfortunately, this scam preys upon a grandmother’s natural wish to help her grandson.

MISSING / FOUND PERSON
06-10-2015 3:00 AM to 11:30 PM
Cornwall & 4th Ave
A resident reported that his friend had been sending out suicidal text messages and making suicidal statements on social media. The friend had gone missing and was no longer responding to phone calls, texts or e-mails. After searching for over 20 hours, officers located the missing man, who was in crisis. He was taken to the hospital.
Captain’s Note: San Francisco Suicide Prevention provides emotional support, education, assistance and intervention to people in crisis. Their 24 hour hotline is 415-781-0500. www.sfsuicide.org

ARREST: PUBLIC URINATION / PUBLIC INTOXICATION / RESISTING ARREST
06-12-2015 2:00 AM
Geary & 3rd Ave
Officers on patrol saw the suspect urinating on the sidewalk and detained him to issue a citation. However, the intoxicated suspect became belligerent and tried to grab a passerby. Officers went to handcuff him but he pulled away and tried to escape. He did not comply with the officers’ orders to stop resisting and fought with them briefly before being handcuffed.

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