Hoodline aims to keep neighbors informed of crime and quality-of-life issues in the neighborhoods we cover. In the case of the Tenderloin, which has its fair share of crime and mayhem, we won't be covering every on-the-street incident or mugging, but we'll do our best to give readers a snapshot of what's been going on.
Here's a selection of crimes that took place in the Tenderloin and Mid-Market area in July and the first half of August. All details are pulled from the SFPD's daily crime recaps.
Cell Phone Robbery
On August 14th at 1:45am, a 29-year-old man was attacked at Turk and Leavenworth streets. A suspect hit the victim on the head with an unknown object; while he was on the ground, several women went through his pockets, took his wallet and cell phone, and fled the scene.
UN Plaza Stabbing
At 4pm on August 7th, SFPD received a call to UN Plaza, where a 44-year-old man had been stabbed. The victim had a puncture wound on his arm and was transported to San Francisco General Hospital, after telling police that an unknown suspect "poked" him with an object.
Arrest Of A One-Legged Man
On August 4th, writer Chaédria LaBouvier recorded a video of several officers making an arrest on Market between Seventh and Eighth Streets. According to her blog post about the incident, a call was made to the police by one of the local deli workers, complaining of a man waving sticks (which ended up being his crutches). After an encounter with police that lasted several blocks, the man was eventually detained and transported to San Francisco General Hospital.
Robbery with Broken Bottle
Between 6-7am on the morning of August 3rd, an altercation took place at Sixth and Market streets. Two suspects approached a 56-year-old man waiting for the bus, hitting him on the back of his head with a stick and demanding his property. After handing over his wallet and cell phone, the victim cut his hand on the broken bottle that one of the suspects was holding. He was transported to St. Francis Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
Coffee Theft
Around 9:45pm on August 3rd, two men entered a coffee shop on the 700 block of Market Street. One suspect grabbed a package of coffee, attempting to conceal it. A 20-year-old shopkeeper tried to block the exit but was elbowed and pushed out of the way. The suspects escaped.
Mid-Day Mugging
On the afternoon of July 26th a 35-year-old male was walking down Turk near Jones when three suspects approached him and punched him in the face. The assailants went through the man's pockets and stole his smartphone and some cash.
Violent Mugging
In the early hours of July 26th, two 28-year-old men were approached at Sixth and Market streets by two suspects, who demanded they hand over their property. One suspect grabbed the cell phone out of one victim's pocket, and when the victim attempted to recover his phone, he was punched in the face. His friend came to his aid, and was also punched. One victim suffered a broken nose, and one suspect was taken into custody by police.
Basement Arson
At 12:18am on July 25th, an arson call came in from the 600 block of O'Farrell Street. Both SFPD and SFFD responded, and found burn marks on the ceiling and one wall of the building's basement.
Drug Use and Stabbing
At 3:45 am on July 25th, Tenderloin police responded to a stabbing call at Fulton and Larkin streets. A 19-year-old male had met up to use drugs with a friend, and then gotten in an argument. The suspect stabbed the victim in the neck and wrist before fleeing on foot. The victim was transported to San Francisco General Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
Aggravated Assault
Shortly after 10:30pm on July 20th, a 53-year-old man was attacked in Hallidie Plaza by a young man in his 20s. The suspect approached the victim and punched him in the face. When the victim fell, he hit his head on a concrete planter and lost consciousness. He fractured his nose and the side of his face, and was transported to Kaiser's hospital.
Mysterious Injury
Late at night on the evening of July 9th, a 51-year-old man was found covered in blood at the corner of Turk and Leavenworth streets. Further inspection showed a laceration on the back of his head. Paramedics transported him to St. Francis Hospital; although initially uncooperative, he later told medics that he was pepper sprayed and hit over the head.
Attack and Robbery
At 1:30 in the morning on July 9th, a 34-year old female was approached by a group of people on the corner of Post and Larkin streets. The victim said hello to one of the men in the group, only to be attacked by his female companion. The suspect hit, scratched, and bit the victim, then took her purse and ran. The victim suffered cuts to her face, swelling to her eye and nose, and a bite mark on her wrist, but refused transportation to the hospital.
Scissor Stabbing
On July 1st at 11:15am, a 60-year-old woman entered a restaurant on Mason Street and kicked out the glass door. After being confronted, she stabbed a 61-year-old male in the chest with a pair of scissors. The victim suffered a laceration to his chest, but the injury was not life-threatening. The suspect was arrested.
SFPD Tenderloin Station holds community meetings on crime and safety from 6-7:30pm on the last Tuesday of the month, at their location on 301 Eddy St. This month's meeting will take place on August 25th.
