Police Blotter – August 28, 2015

SFPD Richmond District Police Station
Weekly Update 08-28-2015
From Captain Simon Silverman

Richmond Station’s Community Police Advisory Board is seeking new members:

If you are interested in becoming a member of Richmond District Police Station’s Community Police Advisory Board (CPAB), please attend an informational meeting Wednesday September 16, 2015 at 7:00 PM at Richmond Station (461 6th Ave). The CPAB is a group of civilian volunteers who live and/or work in the district. During monthly CPAB meetings, members share information and observations from their respective communities. They advise the station captain about crime and quality of life issues affecting the district.

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

ARREST: DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE
08/22/2015 3:38 AM
California & Broderick
Officers on patrol saw the driver sideswipe a parked car so they detained him. He admitted to drinking 5 shots of cognac and apologized for his actions. His blood alcohol level was over 0.12%.

SUSPICIOUS PERSON
08/22/105 3:30 PM
Broderick & Pine
As the reportee approached her apartment building she saw the suspect standing in front of the gate. She asked him what he was doing and he said that he was there to visit a friend. She asked the friend’s name and when the suspect could not answer, she told him to leave. He walked away quickly and the reportee used her phone to discreetly take pictures of the suspect. She then went in and closed the gate behind her. She returned to the entryway a short time later and saw the suspect now inside the gate. She screamed at him to leave and she called 911 at which point the suspect fled.

Suspect: Latino male, 20-25 years old, 5’2” 140 lbs, wearing a red short sleeved shirt, baggy blue jeans and carrying a red and gray backpack. The suspect had black hair in a ponytail and tattoos on his right arm.
Captain’s Note: Our reportee set an excellent example. She did not let the person in despite his story. After he somehow got in, she screamed to draw attention and she called 911. She even had the presence of mind to get a picture of the suspect.

ARREST: ASSAULT
08/23/2015 12:23 AM
Cabrillo & 40th Ave
An Uber driver picked up two passengers downtown and gave them a ride to Cabrillo & 40th Ave. As they neared the destination, one of the passengers struck the driver on the back of the head twice. The driver stopped the car and got out and the passenger also exited and punched the driver in the face several times, knocking him to the ground. Officers arrived and arrested the suspect.
Captain’s Note: Both the suspect and the victim are from the same foreign country. The violence appears to have followed a spirited discussion about politics in their home nation.

ARREST: DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE
08/23/2015 3:30 AM
Clement & 27th Ave
Officers on patrol saw the suspect run a red light and pulled him over. He admitted to having just one drink although he appeared to be intoxicated and his blood alcohol level was over 0.11%.
Captain’s Note: Maybe it was just one big drink.

ROBBERY OF A STORE
08/23/2015 8:29 PM
Clement & 8th Ave
The suspect stood in line to buy a bag of candy. When the cashier went to give him change, the suspect showed what appeared to be the butt of gun in his waist band, and demanded money. The suspect fled on foot. No one was injured.
Suspect: Black male, 25-35 years old, 5’10” 150 lbs, wearing a black beanie, a black hooded jacket, black pants and red converse shoes.

ARREST: THEFT FROM A STORE / POSSESSION OF BURGLARY TOOLS
08/23/2015 9:40 PM
Geary & Masonic
Officers responded to a report of a shoplifter in custody at a store. Security guards detained the suspect after he stole miscellaneous items and left the store. They recognized him as the same person who had stolen a laptop from the store last week. The suspect was on probation and one condition of his probation was that he submit to warrantless search by police officers. In the suspect’s pocket was a car remote key fob. The officers used that to find his car in the parking lot and search it. In the car they found a window punching tool (used to break into cars) and two expensive bicycles. Officers ran the serial numbers on both bicycles but they were not reported stolen.
Captain’s Note: Regular readers will join me in being highly suspicious that these bikes are stolen property. However, without someone having registered the bike or reported the serial numbers as stolen there is no way to prove our suspicion. Officers had no legal basis to seize the bikes. Here now, my weekly plug for recording your serial number and registering your bike by visiting http://www.safebikes.org.

ROBBERY
08/26/2015 1:25 AM
Geary & 18th Ave
The victim was walking down the street when the suspect approached him from behind, pushed him down and stole his wallet. The victim was not injured.
Suspect: Black male, 20-30 years old, 5’10” thin build, clean shaven

THEFT
08/25/2015 4:00 PM
California & Spruce
The victim was shopping when she stepped away from her cart briefly leaving her purse in the cart. An unknown suspect stole her purse and quickly made several charges on her credit cards.
Captain’s Note: This preventable theft is so common that I could almost cut and paste it into the newsletter from week to week.

FAMILY DISPUTE
08/25/2015 7:37 PM
Sutter & Baker
A 17 year old called the police to report a dispute with his mother. Upon arrival, officers found the young man swearing at his mother. Officers separated the parties and learned the following. The son brought home a young lady and the pair headed straight for his room (presumably to do homework – biology perhaps). The mother asked him about the purpose of the young lady’s visit at which point the son became enraged, the mother grabbed a frying pan to defend herself, and the young lady departed quickly. To allow a cooling off period, officers took the son to a local youth services agency whose staff will work with mother and son.

ARREST: DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE
08/26/2015 11:06 PM
Anza & 14th Ave
Officers on patrol saw the suspect run a stop sign and pulled him over. He appeared to be intoxicated and his blood alcohol level was over 0.14%.

ARREST: PUBLIC INTOXICATION / POSSESSION OF COCAINE
08/27/2015 2:20 AM
Geary & 26th Ave
The suspect was escorted out of a bar after he poured drinks over other patrons and refused to pay his tab. Once outside, he tried to re-enter and was behaving aggressively so bar employees called the police. Officers arrested the suspect for public intoxication. A search uncovered a vial of cocaine in his pocket.
Captain’s Note: Recent changes in the law made simple possession of cocaine a misdemeanor whereas it used to be a felony.

ATTEMPTED ROBBERY
08/28/2015 12:32 AM
Geary & 19th Ave
The victim was walking down the street when the suspect approached him from behind, struck him several times and attempted to take his shoulder bag. The suspect was unsuccessful and fled on foot.

Suspect: Black male, 25 years old, 5’10” thin build, wearing a red jacket and a black backpack
Captain’s Note: The description and MO in this case are similar to the robbery at Geary &18th on 08/26/2015, so this may be the same suspect. In both cases, the victim’s were intoxicated making it difficult for the officers to get information from them. I am in no way blaming the victims, however it is important to understand that obvious intoxication and its attendant vulnerability make one a more attractive target for criminals.

Contact Us:
Richmond Station
461 6th Ave.
San Francisco, CA 94118
415-666-8000
E-mail: SFPDRichmondStation@sfgov.org