The streets around San Mateo High School turned into crime scenes last December, and we finally saw a semblance of justice. A five-month investigation came to a head when the San Mateo Police Department clamped down on three individuals—20-year-old Joshua Ferri and two unnamed male juveniles, aged 16 and 17, in connection with an assault and robbery that had shocked the local community. As per the information originally disseminated in a press release, all three suspects were cuffed and booked early this month for their alleged roles in the violent incident.
On the fateful night of December 22, a distress call marked 5:55 p.m. rang through the corridors of the San Mateo Police, signaling turmoil near a local learning institution. Responding to the call was a team of officers who pieced together an account of an attack that left a victim battered, robbed of his jewelry, and adorned with injuries severe enough to warrant hospitalization. The narrative uncovered was one where a suspect, brandishing what was perceived as "brass knuckles," dealt blows upon the helpless individual, according to the police department.
Steering the subsequent investigation was the Crime Reduction Unit (CRU), whose sleuthing over the months finally bore fruit—the identification of the trio involved. Arrest and search warrants were issued, leading to the coordinated arrests by San Mateo and Foster City police on May 3. Ferri was nabbed in San Mateo while the teenage culprits were found, one in the city, the other trying to leave his sins behind at San Francisco Airport. Their fates were swiftly decided: the adult went to San Mateo County Jail, and the juveniles went to Hillcrest Juvenile Detention Facility.
The long arm of the law extended into the suspects' homes, with authorities uncovering not just evidence of the December crime but also an illegally obtained pistol, narcotics destined for sale, and a veritable arsenal of over 1,400 pounds of illicit fireworks. These findings added to the gravity of the charges weighing down on the accused. Ferri racked up accusations of second-degree robbery, assault with a deadly weapon, conspiracy, firearm possession violations, and narcotics and fireworks charges. His younger accomplices bear similar robbery and assault charges, with the slightly younger one additionally facing possession of metal knuckles, as outlined in the San Mateo Police press release.
As the gears of justice grind forward, the San Mateo Police Department holds firm in its resolve for safer streets, earnestly appealing to the community for continued vigilance. Locals are encouraged to report suspicious activity — a shared responsibility in maintaining order in our spaces, encapsulated in the ethos, "If You See Something, Say Something."
