Police Blotter – April 21, 2016

SFPD Richmond District Police Station
Weekly Update 04-21-2016

From Captain Paul Yep:

I would like to highlight just one example of some of the outstanding work of our Department’s members in our effort to mitigate the increase in auto burglaries in the City, yet provide a greater understanding to the challenges of holding these perpetrators accountable for their actions.

On March 8, 2016, San Francisco Police Officers from Southern Police Station and the Patrol Bureau Task Force arrested a subject for eight auto burglaries in San Francisco.

Over the course of several days, Southern Station Police Officers and Patrol Task Force Officers identified a suspect and conducted an investigation based on several leads they developed. After building cases with sufficient evidence to arrest, these officers apprehended the suspect and subsequently conducted a search warrant on the suspect’s residence. The search warrant produced evidence tying the suspect into numerous auto burglaries. Other contraband was also located at the premises.

The suspect was charged with nine counts of auto burglary, four counts of possession of stolen property, and five counts of possession of tools used to commit burglaries. The subject arrested was Kristen “Jason” Bell, 31 year-old male out of San Francisco.

Bell was arraigned on March 11, 2016 and bail was set at $360,000. The presiding judge referred Bell to the Supervisor Parole Release program under the objections of the Assistant District Attorney who argued that Bell being responsible for 9 auto burglaries, posed a safety risk to the people’s property in San Francisco upon release and public safety needed primary consideration. The judge disagreed and released Bell with various stipulations.

It is our hope that Mr. Bell has learned from his transgressions, however, we are extremely concerned that the release of a known serial auto burglar such as Mr. Bell will continue to hamper the Department’s efforts in curbing the rise in property crimes in the district and within the city. Despite these challenges, Department members will continue to commit themselves to mitigate these issues and preserve public safety.

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

ROBBERY WITH GUN
04/10/2016 11:00 PM
Anza & 18th Ave.
The victim walked into Richmond Police Station to report a robbery. The victim told the Officer he was walking in the area of Anza & 18th Ave. when he heard a car playing loud music pass him. The victim told the Officer he noticed the same car circle the block and stop in front of him, at which time three masked suspects jumped out of the back. The victim said one suspect then pointed a black semi-automatic handgun at him and demanded all his money. Fearing for his life, the victim handed the suspect his wallet and cell phone. The victim told the Officer the suspects then got back into the vehicle and fled in an unknown direction.
The victim was unable to provide a description of the suspects due to the fact they were all wearing ski masks. The investigation is ongoing.

ARREST: POSSESSION OF STOLEN PROPERTY; WARRANT ARREST
4/12/2016 3:43 PM
Geary Blvd. & 19th Ave.
A male suspect holding a purse entered a bank and attempted to cash a check belonging to a female. The man was asking the bank teller several questions regarding the woman and her account. The bank teller became suspicious and immediately called police. When Officers arrived they located the suspect and quickly detained him. The suspect told Officers he “found” the purse at 47th Ave & Geary Blvd. Officers were able to locate the purse’s owner who told them her car had been broken into earlier that day and several items were taken, including her purse and checkbook. The suspect was placed under arrest and a search was conducted which located several of the victim’s bank cards in his jacket pocket. A computer check of the suspect revealed an outstanding warrant for his arrest. The suspect was booked into County Jail on several charges.

ARREST: AGGRAVATED ASSAULT; ELDER ABUSE
04/13/2016 04:00 PM
Geary & Parker Ave
Officers responded to Geary Blvd and Parker Ave. regarding a homeless female who attacked and punched an elderly woman in the head. Officers arrived and located the 89 year old victim who told them she was checking the back parking lot of her building and noticed a homeless person sleeping in a sleeping bag. The victim told Officers “no trespassing” signs were posted in the back lot since they had trouble with people camping back there. The victim told Officers that when she asked the female to leave, the woman instead got up and began to scream incoherently at her. The suspect then began hitting the woman with her hands and fists, knocking off and breaking her eye glasses. The victim fell to the ground and the female suspect continued to hit her as the victim screamed for help. Eventually, the victim was able to get away and call 911. Officers located the suspect who was being uncooperative and refused to standup or comply with their instructions in any way. Officers arrested the suspect and booked her into County Jail. The victim was transported to the hospital for treatment of several different injuries.

ARREST: VANDALISM; ASSAULT ON POLICE OFFICERS; RESISTING ARREST
04/14/2016 12:45 PM
MLK & Chain of Lakes Dr.
Officers were called to MLK & Chain of Lakes Dr., regarding a man destroying a park bench. When Officers arrived on scene they located the man who was highly agitated. The man was yelling, screaming obscenities and swinging wood planks around. When Officers approached the man he raised a wood plank above his head in a threatening manner. The man was sweating profusely and acting as if he was in an altered mental state. Fearing for their safety the Officers ordered the man to drop the wood plank. The suspect refused and the Officers again instructed him to drop the wood plank. The man finally complied and dropped the plank but it appeared as if he was going to run away from the Officers. In order to prevent the man’s escape, Officers took him to the ground where he continued to resist their efforts to control him. Several other Officers arrived on scene and they were able to handcuff the suspect. An ambulance arrived on scene to assess the man since he was in such an agitated state. The suspect was arrested and later booked into County Jail on felony vandalism charges and other charges.
** All charges were dropped in this case. The suspect is on probation out of both Marin County and San Francisco for grand theft. The suspect was discharged to the Adult Probation Department, who revoked his probation and placed him into custody.

MISCELLANEOUS INVESTIGATION
04/16/2016 6:48 PM
78 Music Concourse Dr.
Officers were dispatched to the area of 78 Music Concourse, near the De Young Museum, regarding a mentally disturbed male. The man was knocking people’s cameras out of their hands and chasing them. Officers located the man who had since taken off all his clothes and was completely naked. An ambulance responded to the scene and transported the man to the hospital for medical treatment.
No one was injured in this incident and no one wished to press charges against the man.

ARREST: WARRANT ARREST
04/17/2016 5:40 AM
Cabrillo & 11th Ave.
Officers observed a male and a female subject riding their bicycles westbound on Cabrillo St. without proper lighting equipment. The Officers stopped the two and conducted a records check on them. The male had a felony no bail warrant out of San Francisco. The male was arrested and later booked into County Jail on the warrant, while the female was advised to get a light for her bicycle and released from the scene.

ATTEMPTED ROBBERY WITH A GUN
04/18/2016 11:21 AM
Geary Blvd & Arguello Blvd.
A man entered a gas station and immediately started yelling “Cash!” as he reached into his waistband, took out a handgun and pointed it at the clerk. The clerk began to walk towards his manager’s office when the suspect began to yell “Cash! Cash!” once again. The suspect then turned around and ran out the front entrance. No one was hurt and no money was stolen during this incident. Officers arrived on scene but were unable to locate the suspect. The investigation into the identity of the man is ongoing.
Suspect description: Asian male, 25-30 years old, 5’11 thin build, black hair, wearing all black clothing and a white face mask.

HOT PROWL BURGLARY
4/18/2016 12:28 AM
Golden Gate Ave. & Arguello Blvd.
The victim woke up to one of her bedroom doors being forced open. The victim doesn’t use that door for exit/entry into her room so it is partially blocked by a dresser. The victim made eye contact with a suspect at which time the man fled the house. The victim walked through the house and didn’t notice anything missing. When she walked into her roommate’s room she noticed the dresser drawers had been pulled out and placed onto the bed. Officers arrived on scene but were unable to locate the male suspect.
Suspect description: White male, 5’10, wearing dark clothing.

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