SFPD released a statement last night regarding the arrest of a suspect involved in the robbery of a television news crew at Pier 14.
According to the release, San Francisco Police Investigators, with the assistance of the Oakland and Fremont Police Departments, made the arrest on July 27th. The television news crew was robbed, a cameraman was pistol-whipped and cameras were stolen from KNTV Bay Area News and KTVU on July 2nd as they were reporting on the homicide of Kathryn Steinle at Pier 14. They were robbed at gunpoint by two armed suspects and a third suspect who was acting as a getaway driver, according to police.
Investigators combed through the evidence, and with the assistance of Oakland Police Department Special Investigations Unit, they identified a black BMW 7 Series sedan that matched the description of the vehicle used in the Pier 14 robbery.
Using the information regarding the vehicle, San Francisco Police Investigators identified Michael Anthony Jones, 23, of San Francisco as a suspect in the case. SFPD officers conducted surveillance and located Jones and the BMW at a Motel 6 in Fremont. With the assistance of the Fremont Police Department, Jones was arrested after a brief foot pursuit as he was leaving a room at the motel.
Jones is known to have affiliation to a San Francisco gang. He was booked into San Francisco County Jail on charges of robbery, aggravated assault, grand theft and conspiracy. He was also booked on several outstanding warrants for crimes including burglary, narcotics, hit-and-run and evading peace officers. Jones was also on felony probation in San Francisco for a prior firearm offense. He remains in custody, and police are still looking for the additional suspects involved in the incident.
In the press release, the SFPD made sure to thank the Oakland and Fremont Police Departments for their help: “We’ve known for a long time that many criminals move back and forth across the Bay,” said SFPD Chief Greg Suhr. “This investigation represents just one example of the spirit of cooperation between Bay Area Law Enforcement.”
