This week was a busy one for the SFPD in North Beach and the FiDi, starting with the report that Central Station's Capt. David Lazar was injured by a suspected drunk driver in a car crash. He broke a rib and suffered some soft tissue damage; while he is recuperating, Lt. Brien Hoo is acting Captain. 

Photo: SFPD

Acting Capt. Hoo wrote extensively about Capt. Lazar's collision in this week's SFPD Central Station captain's newsletter. It happened on Oct. 12th, as the captain was returning from a scene where a man was threatening to commit suicide (he did not; more details on the case below). Acting Capt. Hoo writes:

Captain Lazar was in an unmarked vehicle and driving west on Broadway from Fillmore. He was traveling at low speed when something sent him and his vehicle into a violent turn. Captain Lazar’s vehicle was thrust violently forward as it made a complete 360-degree turn. After Captain Lazar’s vehicle made its turn, it struck the front of a parked vehicle that was on the far side of the opposing lane. The vehicle that struck Captain Lazar came to rest immediately next to Captain Lazar’s vehicle. The driver of the other vehicle appeared to be intoxicated and could not exit from the driver’s side of his vehicle. Air bags deployed and the only sound that anyone could hear was the sound of Captain Lazar’s horn that was stuck and steady. Captain Lazar was able to get himself out of the vehicle and contact 911 for assistance.

Photo: SFPD

Capt. Lazar's monthly community meeting slated for Oct. 15th was canceled; he'll discuss driving under the influence at his next community meeting, scheduled for 6–7pm Thursday, Nov. 19th, at the North Beach Library, 850 Columbus Ave. Hoo emailed us to say Capt. Lazar will be back on the job on Tuesday.

Now, for a review of some of the major incidents that occurred in the past week:

Bank robbery in North Beach

A bank was robbed on the 400 block of Columbus Avenue at 9:42am Oct. 9th, adding to a string of recent bank robberies in North Beach and Chinatown. A man, about 30 years old, entered the bank and handed the teller, a 23-year-old woman, a note demanding money. She placed it on the counter and the suspect took it and fled.

Man robbed at ATM in Union Square

Yet another ATM robbery—we've reported several in the crime recaps throughout the past weeks—was reported at 9:03pm Oct. 9th, on the unit block of Powell Street in Union Square. Three men, age 25–30, were involved in robbing a 44-year-old man. One approached the man from behind while he was at the ATM and forced him out of the way, while the other two suspects held him against the wall.  The first suspect took the victim's money, and all three fled on foot.

Man shot in buttocks in North Beach

A 27-year-old man was shot in the buttocks while standing on Broadway and Columbus Avenue in North Beach at 2:10am on Oct. 10th. He was taken to San Francisco General Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

Man robbed of bike while riding on The Embarcadero

A woman, about 40–50 years old, robbed a 20-year-old man of his bike while he was riding it on Pier 1 1/2 on The Embarcadero at 4:54am Oct. 11th. She approached him and threatened him with a knife and then fled on the bicycle.

Muni bus runs over, kills bicyclist in FiDi

A 38-Geary bus, driven by a 46-year-old man, hit and killed Mark Heyer, 47, who was riding a bike on the 500 block of Market Street at 3:23pm Oct. 11th. Initial reports indicate Heyer's bike tires got stuck in the streetcar tracks and he fell and was run over by the rear of the bus. An investigation is ongoing.

Cyclist hit by horse trailer on The Embarcadero

That same day, Oct. 11th, a call came in at 4:01pm reporting that another cyclist had been involved in a collision, this one at The Embarcadero and Chestnut Street. A woman, 46, rode her bike into the occupied lane and collided with a horse trailer being towed by a 2002 Chevrolet pickup truck. She had serious but non-life-threatening injuries, including head trauma, eye trauma, a collapsed lung and internal bleeding, and was taken to San Francisco General Hospital. The driver stopped and complied with responding officers.

Woman injured in FiDi while trying to recover tablet

At Market and Beale streets in the FiDi at 1:50am Oct. 12th, a woman, 49, was sitting down with her tablet when a man took it from her hands and walked off. She followed him to try to get her tablet back, and at one point, the suspect pushed her into a bicycle rack, causing a laceration to her ear. She refused medical transport.

Man threatens suicide in FiDi

A 38-year-old man threatened suicide starting at 2pm Oct. 12th on the 600 block of California Street in the FiDi. He climbed into a smoke shaft of the building via a ladder and climbed onto a cement beam. The hostage negotiation team and other specialists responded; SFFD arrived at the scene, and several hours later, was able to get the suspect off of the beam. Units then took the suspect into custody.

Unsatisfied panhandler robs man of cell phone in Union Square

At 2:03am Oct. 13th at 1 Powell St. in Union Square, a man, 56, approached another man, 26, and asked for money. The victim gave him some money, but the suspect demanded more. When the victim refused to give it to him, the suspect took the victim's cell phone from his hands. The victim followed the suspect and recovered his cell phone, and officers arrived and took the suspect into custody. The victim suffered scratches on his stomach, but refused medical transport.

Computers, phones, coats, bike taken during hot prowl on Russian Hill

A hot prowl burglary occurred sometime between 10pm Oct. 13th and 5:30am Oct. 14th on the 2300 block of Hyde St. on Russian Hill. A man, 62, woke up at 5:30am and went downstairs to his kitchen, where he noticed items missing. He then noticed the garage door was wide open, with his vehicle doors open. There was no sign of forced entry. He reported the theft of two laptops, two smartphones, a purse, a wallet, a road bicycle and three coats.

Man punched during beanie robbery in Union Square

At 6:29pm Oct. 14th, a man, 25, was approached on the 500 block of Powell in Union Square by a man of unknown age who pushed him into a wall. The suspect asked the victim why he took his beanie, then punched him in the face, took his beanie and fled on foot.