It's time again to recount some recent crimes and injuries in the Financial District and North Beach areas as reported by SFPD sources. Though not meant to be comprehensive, it should serve as a brief snapshot of recent activity to help locals stay informed. We'll also occasionally include snippets from SFPD Central Station Capt. David Lazar's newsletter.
This week, Capt. Lazar writes about a ceremony for officers trained in crisis intervention in order to safely deal with those in mental crisis. He nominated Officer Jennifer Foxworth, who talked a veteran threatening to jump off the roof of a downtown hotel out of committing suicide. Capt. Lazar also congratulated his Central Station captain predecessor, Deputy Chief Garret Tom, who was recently promoted from commander. Deputy Chief Tom is now in charge of the Special Operations Bureau, home to the Tactical Company, Homeland Security, Traffic Company, the Urban Area Security Initiative and the SFPD's 24-Hour Operations Center.
And now for recent reports culled from daily recaps sent by SFPD:
• The SF Fire Department responded to a one-alarm fire on the 700 block of Jackson Street at 5:55am on May 5th. The building was abandoned and boarded up, and arson was suspected.
• At 8:32pm on May 7th, officers responded to a call of a woman lighting a magazine on fire in the middle of Brooklyn Place, an alley in Chinatown near Stockton and Sacramento streets. The woman was taken into custody without incident.
• A thief made off with sandwiches from a business on the 1300 block of Stockton Street at 1pm on May 8th. The woman took the merchandise and attempted to leave without paying. The victim attempted to stop her, but she grabbed him and threw him out of the way to escape with the bounty.
• Another robber got away with perfume and makeup from a store on the 2100 block of Polk Street at 4:08pm on May 8th. The man took the merchandise and attempted to leave without paying. The victim attempted to stop the suspect, but the thief pulled out a hammer and threatened the victim in order to retain possession of the property.
• Police were called to the scene of an assault with a deadly weapon at 9:15pm on May 8th at Kearny and Market streets. Two suspects bumped into a man as he was attempting to get on the bus. One of the men returned and struck the victim in the face with a glass wine bottle, then both fled on foot. The man's front tooth was knocked out and he possibly suffered a broken jaw. He was taken to St. Francis Hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
• On the unit block of Drumm Street at 1:38pm on May 9th, a man told another man he was not allowed in the store. The suspect punched the victim in the face and walked away. The victim followed behind the suspect to ensure he was leaving, and the suspect punched the victim again, causing him to fall to the ground. The suspect choked the victim and then fled. The victim suffered bruising on his face, arm and rib area, but refused medical attention.
• In Justin Herman Plaza at 5:15am on May 12th, a suspect approached a man from behind, placed a knife to his neck and threatened him. The victim saw a passerby and screamed. The suspect punched the victim in the face, robbed him of a duffel bag, cell phone and some identification, and then fled the area in an unknown direction.
• Police got a call about an assault on two men with pepper spray at 7:25pm on May 12th on the 50 block of Drumm Street. The suspect, a cab driver, honked the horn for them to move up and an argument ensued. The suspect spat into the eyes of one victim, and the other got out of the car. The suspect then pepper sprayed both victims and drove away.
• A man was walking down the street at 12:20am on May 13th on the 1500 block of California Street when a bicyclist rode by him and snatched his cell phone. The victim gave chase to no avail.
• And finally, in yet another arson incident, a witness saw a man igniting papers on fire outside a building on the 500 block of Powell Street at 5:40am on May 15th. The firebug fled on foot in an unknown direction. The SF Fire Department responded at the scene and extinguished the burning papers.
