Here's our latest recap of some recent crimes and injuries in the Financial District, North Beach and adjoining neighborhoods, 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's SFPD Central Station Captain's Newsletter includes a host of timely information, as well as announcements about new officers—including a new foot beat in North Beach.
We also talked with Capt. Lazar to get an update on the issues at the Safeway store at 145 Jackson St., which we previously reported. He said he met briefly with the assistant manager, and added, "Our plan is to have a larger meeting with the actual manager of Safeway, their private security, representatives of Central Station and representatives of Supervisor Christensen's office. We’re going to brainstorm a scan and analysis of what the issues are there and then develop a response plan to address the problems."
On July 21st, Capt. Lazar also re-launched Operation Sober Square, which aims to make Washington Square and the surrounding area alcohol- and crime-free. "We expanded it to include the North Beach library and Joe DiMaggio Playground, even though it's under construction, and we make a pass through Romolo and Broadway and the Kearny steps and Broadway on the way to county jail every day to make sure we didn't miss anyone," he said. So far, no arrests have been made, but about seven citations have been issued for things like open containers, he said. The program will continue through late August.
Here is a list of crimes provided by SFPD in the area:
On July 5th, 2015, a Nob Hill resident fell victim to theft by a suspect who stole her mobility scooter from a locked breezeway on the 1400 block of Clay Street. The suspect, a man whom witnesses say was wearing a hooded sweatshirt, was last seen pushing the mobility scooter southbound on Hyde Street from Clay Street. The scooter's estimated cost is $3,500; it is a Pride Pursuit, Four-Wheel Mobility Scooter, Model #SC713.
Anyone with additional information is asked to contact the Central Police Station Investigations Team, (415) 315-2400, the Anonymous Tip Line (415) 575-4444, or Text A Tip to TIP411 and include “SFPD” in the opening of the message.
A hit-and-run at Taylor and Bush streets on Nob Hill at 2am July 16th left a female, age unknown, with a life-threatening head injury. The suspect was driving a two-door silver Ford Mustang from the early 2000s. Five girls jumped onto the hood of the vehicle as it was in motion. The victim fell off and was run over. The driver pulled over, let the other four girls off of the hood and then fled the scene.
A 20-year-old woman was robbed at Market and Third streets in the FiDi at 3:30pm July 16th by two females, age 15–19. The victim was walking on Market Street when the two suspects approached her and struck her in the face. The victim dropped her phone and the first suspect picked it up and ran. The victim gave chase, but the suspect stopped and struck her in the face again. The suspect threw the victim to the ground and both suspects began punching and kicking her. She suffered redness to the face and lost her phone.
A 31-year-old man was found injured and unconscious on the ground at Coit Tower on Telegraph Hill on July 19th; he was assaulted sometime between 2–7am. As the victim was being transported to San Francisco General Hospital for non-life-threatening facial trauma, he stated he was hit in the face with an unknown object. He was unable to be further interviewed due to his condition.
At 11pm July 20th at Stockton and Clay streets in Chinatown, an 81-year-old man's cell phone was snatched from his hand at by a man, age 25. The suspect fled on foot in unknown direction.
A 33-year-old man was robbed of money at 1:14pm July 20th at Sutter and Grant streets near Union Square. Two men, age 22, approached him, demanded his property and fled the scene.
Three men, all age 22, approached a 34-year-old woman and 38-year-old man at 2:15pm July 21st at Powell and Union streets in North Beach. The first suspect grabbed the woman's purse. The man she was with attempted to stop the robbery, and the suspect struck him in the face and fled the scene in a black four-door Toyota Corolla. All three suspects were later detained and the purse was recovered. The man suffered redness to the face but refused transport for medical attention.
Mark Wright. Photo: SFPD
San Francisco police officers from several police districts responded to the CitiBank at 245 Market St. at 10:31am July 21st on a report of a robbery in progress. As officers responded to the scene, dispatchers from the Department of Emergency Management kept them updated with information as it was relayed from a 9-1-1 caller.
The suspect reportedly told a female bank employee that he was armed and demanded money. The bank teller, fearing for her safety, complied with the suspect’s demands and handed over U.S. currency. The suspect fled the bank on foot, prior to officers arriving on the scene. Dispatchers provided officers with the suspect’s description and direction of escape. Officers then apprehended the suspect near the Federal Reserve Bank on Main Street between Mission and Market Street. The suspect arrested was Mark Wright, 25 years old, with no local address. Wright was charged with felony robbery and booked on several outstanding warrants.
In an assault on the 200 block of Montgomery Street in the FiDi, a man (age unknown) suffered a laceration to his forehead, a fractured nose and a traumatic brain injury at 4:05pm July 22nd. The suspect, a 26-year-old man, fled on foot southbound on Montgomery.
