Here's another edition of your local crime blotter, taken from daily updates provided by the SFPD. Here is a recap of some of the criminal activity that happened over the past two weeks—since our last recap—in SoMa.
Cop car collides with another vehicle
On March 20th, a SFPD vehicle was traveling westbound on Brannan Street when it collided with another vehicle that was heading southbound on 5th Street. Police say that the two SFPD officers in the police car and the driver of the other vehicle were all men in their 30s; along with a passenger of unknown age in the non-police vehicle, they all sustained minor injuries, but no one was hospitalized. The incident is under investigation, but no one was arrested at the scene.
Man catches vehicular robber after taxi chase
On March 18th, a 32-year-old man was standing on the sidewalk at 5th and Mission streets around 4am, when he was approached by a 50-year-old male driving a vehicle, who asked if he had a lighter. As the victim approached the vehicle window, the suspect grabbed him, held a handgun to his head and demanded his money. The victim complied, and the suspect drove off.
The victim then hailed a cab and followed the suspect’s vehicle, while calling the police. Officers stopped the suspect's vehicle and took him into custody. The handgun was not recovered.
Man and woman attacked, robbed by large group
A 31-year-old woman and a 32-year-old man were attacked and robbed by a group of six people at 6th and Minna streets at 12:29am on March 17th. The pair were walking home when they were approached by five male suspects and one female suspect, who surrounded them and began to kick and punch the male victim. The female suspect then punched the female victim in the face and took her bag.
The suspects all fled in an unknown direction, but the police were able to track down the victim's cell phone, and Tenderloin Station officers arrested two of the six suspects. At least one of the victims was hospitalized with non-life threatening injuries.
Man attacked and robbed after shoplifting accusation, racial slurs
A 69-year-old man was attacked and robbed on the 800 block of Howard Street (between 4th and 5th streets) around 7pm on March 16th. The man was leaving a store when the suspects, two men aged 25-30, stopped him and accused him of shoplifting. The man shouted racial slurs at the pair, who then punched him and stole cash from his wallet. The victim was hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries, and no arrests were made.
An aggravated assault occurred on Muni on the 16th of March at 5:35pm. A 60-year-old male victim and a the 40-year-old male suspect got into a verbal altercation on the Muni vehicle- the suspect then punched the victim, knocking him to the ground. The suspect fled the bus near 8th and Mission streets and fled in an unknown direction. The victim was hospitalized with non-threatening injuries and no arrests were made.
Four men rob business, steal cash and marijuana
Four men robbed an undisclosed business on the 300 block of 10th Street (between Folsom and Harrison) on March 16th around 10:24pm. The suspects, one man in his 30s and three men aged 20-30, allegedly parked their vehicle in the business' garage, then held the victims, three men aged 40-60, at gunpoint. Two of the men stole cash from two of the victims' pockets, while a third victim was forced to open a safe, from which one of the suspects stole marijuana. The suspects fled in a vehicle southbound on 10th Street.
Woman attacked from behind, robbed
On March 14th at 6am, a 48-year-old woman was approached from behind and struck on the head while walking down the 500 block of Townsend Street (between 6th and 7th streets). The victim did not see the suspect and does not remember what happened after she was hit, but when she got up, she noticed her purse, cell phone and tablet were missing. She was transported to the hospital in stable condition.
Armed shoe thieves rob pedestrians
Two 21-year-old men were leaving a business at 2nd and Harrison streets at 3:30am on March 12th when they were surrounded by four male suspects in their 20s. The suspects lifted their shirts to reveal a handgun, then made one of the victims remove his shoes and give them to one of the suspects. Two of the suspects fled northbound on 2nd Street and were arrested; the other two suspects were not apprehended.
Unknown assailant sets fire to man's wheelchair
On March 11th at 5:52am, a 61-year-old man was injured when an unknown suspect set fire to his wheelchair at 4th and Harrison streets. Though the wheelchair was destroyed, a passerby was able to pull the victim out of the chair in time before putting out the fire, which also damaged the wall of a nearby building. The victim was transported to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries; no arrests have been made.
Community meeting
Interested in getting involved in community crime and safety issues? The next SFPD Southern Station community meeting will be held on Wednesday, April 19th from 6-7:30pm. The location of the meeting has not yet been chosen; for more information, call Southern Station at (415) 575-6000.
Witness a crime or collision? See something interesting? Text Hoodline at (415) 200-3233, and we'll investigate.
