Tenderloin Crime & Safety: Stabbings, Robberies, Ellis Street Homicide [Updated]

While we don't report on every crime, we do our best to keep you informed of major crimes and safety concerns in the neighborhood. Here's a selection of crimes reported around the Tenderloin over the past three weeks. All details are pulled from the SFPD's daily crime recaps, unless otherwise noted.

Mysterious homicide

As we previously noted, the SFPD is investigating a homicide that occurred around 12:30am Dec. 18th on the 400 block of Ellis Street. The department identified the victim as 58-year-old Maryanne Descalso, who was found dead when officers arrived on the scene, but has yet to release any details on the ongoing investigation, including the cause of death or whether any suspects have been identified.

Stabbings

Update, 10:50am 12/29: An individual was stabbed at about 10am today on the 200 block of McAllister Street, resulting in the block being closed to traffic for about 45 minutes as SFPD investigated. An officer on the scene told Hoodline that no suspects had been arrested.

A woman, 65, was stabbed in the torso while walking at 5:20pm Dec. 14th on the 100 block of Taylor Street. The suspect approached from behind, stabbed her and fled. No arrest was made.

Elderly women terrorized

As we previously reported, two elderly women, ages 72 and 74, were attacked around 1:30pm Dec. 13th at Cyril Magnin and Eddy streets. The suspect, a woman age 30-35, approached and lit a match on fire, allegedly attempting to light them on fire. While neither victim was harmed by the flame, the suspect then pushed them both into the street. Both were transferred to the hospital with minor injuries, but no arrest was made.

Many robberies

A man walking to Bart was robbed by three men, age 25, at 11pm Dec. 28th at McAllister and Hyde. As the victim was walking, one suspect brandished a knife and asked for money. The second suspect told the first suspect to also ask for his cellphone, while a third suspect was on the lookout. The first suspect also demanded the victim's jacket and beanie, before all three fled on foot. None were arrested.

At 3:20pm that day, a merchant was robbed on the 700 block of Eddy Street. While the victim was speaking with a customer, the suspect, 30, rode up on his bike, took the victim's iPad and rode away. The suspect was not apprehended.

A man, 34, was robbed by two men with a knife at 3am Dec. 27th on the 300 block of Eddy Street. As the victim was waiting for a cab, one suspect grabbed his phone and pushed him. The other suspect then brandished a knife, searched the victim's pockets and fled with his phone and wallet. Neither were arrested.

At 9:45pm Dec. 27th, a man, was robbed in UN Plaza. The victim was about to take his medication, Oxycodone pills, when the suspect, 20-25, knocked the pill bottle from his hands, picked up pills from ground and fled. The suspect was not apprehended.

At 4am Dec. 24th a man, 22, was robbed by a man with a handgun. The suspect, 20-25, entered the victim's room on the 700 block of Ellis Street and pointed the gun at him. He then searched the victim's pockets, took his wallet and fled. No arrest was made.

A man, 52, was robbed at about 12:50pm Dec. 24th at Eddy and Hyde Streets. The victim was walking when the suspect, in his 20s, walked up and ripped a gold necklace from around his neck. The suspect was not arrested.

One man was arrested Dec. 24th after a similar incident in Hallidie Plaza. One suspect approached a 45-year-old man and ripped gold chains off of his neck. The suspect then handed the gold chains to two men standing nearby and all three ran. One of the suspects was later arrested and identified by the victim.

At 4:30pm Dec. 23rd, a woman was robbed by two men at Eighth and Market streets. The first suspect approached and took her phone from her hand. The victim chased the suspect, but fell when the second suspect, 30, tripped her. Both suspects continued to flee and were not apprehended.

A man, 51, was robbed at 12:30pm Dec. 20th after being threatened with a knife at Eddy and Taylor Streets. The victim approached from behind and placed a knife to his throat and instructed the victim to not turn around. He then took the victim's wallet from his back pocket and fled in an unknown direction.

At 330pm Dec. 17th, a man, 33, was robbed at gunpoint on the 200 block of Turk Street. A suspect, 26, approached the victim and propositioned him for narcotics. A second suspect, 27, then approached, put a pistol into the victim's ribs and demanded his property. The first suspect then searched his pockets, took his phone, wallet and keys and both fled. After providing a description of the suspects to the Tenderloin Police Station station, officers arrested the suspects but did not find the gun or stolen property.

At about 10pm that same day, a woman, 34, was robbed on the 100 block of Taylor Street. The victim was approached by two suspects, 30-year-old men, who attempted to take her purse. After a struggle, one suspect pushed the victim down, obtained her purse and they both fled. Neither were arrested.

A 67-year-old woman was assaulted and robbed by three men at 12pm Dec. 15th at Golden Gate and Taylor. All three suspects jumped on the victim and one took her cellphone. Another suspect shot her with pepper spray and threw her to the ground. They all fled, but two were later located by officers and taken into custody.

At 2am Dec. 10th, a man, 36, and woman, 29, were assaulted and robbed on the 300 block of Leavenworth. One suspect rode up on a bicycle and pushed the man down to the ground. When the second victim attempted to help him, a second suspect punched her in the face. The suspects then fled with their property and no arrest was made.

Curious kidnapping incident

A woman, 36, was kidnapped at 3am Dec. 20th from the Sutter and Larkin Streets. The victim got into the suspect's vehicle voluntarily, but asked the suspect, a 52-year-old man, to take her home and he refused. He continued to drive around the city for more than an hour. At 15th Avenue and Lake Street in the Richmond District, the victim got out of the car and told a witness that she had been kidnapped, then got back into the vehicle. The witness then called police, who located and arrested the suspect.

Macaulay Park renovations to include restroom staffing

On the bright side for neighborhood families that frequent Macaulay Park, the Recreation and Parks department's long-awaited renovations project is expected to begin the community input process in June. In the meantime, the Lower Polk Community Benefit District has set aside $100,000 to staff the troublesome JCDecaux restroom outside the park seven-days a week through 2016. Read our full article on the renovation project here.

If you'd like to discuss crime and safety in the neighborhood, the Tenderloin Station community meeting will be held tonight:

Community Meeting Tonight 6pm Tenderloin Station. pic.twitter.com/YTc41OA7nI

— SFPD Tenderloin (@SFPDTenderloin) December 29, 2015

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