Two police stations protect and serve residents of the Inner Sunset: Park Station covers the east end of Golden Gate Park to 9th & Irving, and officers from Taraval Station cover Golden Gate Heights, West Portal, Laguna Honda, and the remainder of the Inner Sunset. Here's a look at recent police activity in the area.
Tuesday, June 21st
Officers from Taraval Station responded to a report of a laptop theft at Andronico's Market at 1:04pm. According to the victim, he'd left his laptop unattended while using the restroom. When he returned, "he reported the suspect had taken his laptop and fled the scene."
Multiple units responded to the scene, but the suspect was identified by a Lieutenant who chased the suspect for approximately 10 blocks. When the pursuit was over, the suspect was arrested, and the laptop was recovered.
Wednesday, June 22nd
Officers from Park Station responded to a call of a robbery with a handgun at the intersection of 11th Avenue & Lincoln Way at 11:40pm. Two women, ages 27 and 25, were held up by two armed men who demanded their valuables.
The younger victim was relieved of a purse, two wallets, two mobile phones and a passport, while her companion lost a watch, a cell phone, and cash. After the victims followed the robbers' instructions to lie down on the sidewalk, the suspects escaped on foot.
Thursday, June 23rd
At 8:28pm, Taraval Station officers on patrol at Noriega & 14th Avenue noticed an idling vehicle that also lacked license plates. After initiating a traffic stop, officers "approached the vehicle to observe a thick white cloud of smoke, which smelled of burnt marijuana," emerge from the front passenger's window.
After running a computer check on one of the occupants, police determined that one had provided "false information about his identity." As a result, the allegedly mendacious passenger was taken to Taraval Station, where he received a citation for obstructing a peace officer's duty. The vehicle's driver was cited for lacking front and back license plates, and was released with another passenger.
Friday, June 24th
At 4:45 in the afternoon, police responded to a call at 8th & Irving, where they encountered a suspect who turned out to have two active arrest warrants. Although "the reportee did not want to meet with the police regarding this incident," the suspect was taken into custody.
When officers from Taraval Station responded to a report of a theft on the 1300 block of Judah at 8:07pm, a witness—who was also an off-duty police officer—had already detained a suspect. According to a witness, the perpetrator allegedly stole the tip jar from a café before attempting to flee.
"The witness gave chase after the suspect and detained him," which permitted responding officers to cite the alleged perpetrator for theft.
Saturday, June 25th
Just before 9pm, police responded to a call reporting that a wayward driver struck several parked cars near the 600 block of Lincoln Way. After arriving at the scene, "officers located the vehicle stationary in the middle of a gas station with the engine running."
Police observed that the driver was unconscious and had an opened beer bottle in his cup holder, not to mention "a strong odor of alcohol." Once awakened, the driver got out of the vehicle but declined to answer questions or take a field sobriety test, "but eventually submitted to a breathalyzer test."
According to officers, the suspect "was also heard muttering" that he was out on bail in Placer County for a DUI, and that this was his fourth arrest for impaired driving. The driver was arrested at the scene "after further investigation."
Sunday, June 26th
An officer from Taraval Station was citing a member of a group of skateboarders for riding on the sidewalk on the 100 block of West Portal "when another rode by." After confiscating the second suspect's deck, the officer asked for identification, but was rebuffed when the "suspect walked away."
Moments later, the suspect returned "to demand his skateboard," but the responding officer said "it would only be returned after the citation was issued." The tight-lipped skater left his board behind, but the first suspect received a citation.
Monday, June 27th
At 5:14am, officers responded to a trespassing call on the 300 block of Santiago Street. According to a witness, a prowler "with a history of a squatter trespassing" had bedded down in the empty house for the night.
Officers located a sleeping individual inside the abode and cited them for trespassing.
Almost 45 minutes later, another call came in from the 700 block of Irving that a man "had intentionally doused himself with lighter fluid." When police arrived at the scene, the suspect said he was attempting to rid himself of head lice.
Police called an ambulance, who brought the suspect to SF General "for mental evaluation and aid;" officers also determined that the individual had an active warrant.
Tuesday, June 28th
At 9:31pm, police responded to a robbery report at the Shell station on the 600 block of Lincoln Way. According to the victim, the suspect entered the store "and started putting items directly into his pocket." After determining that the suspect was intoxicated, the victim attempted to retrieve the items, "but the suspect started pushing him."
The victim attempted to shove the suspect out of the store, but was unsuccessful, which led him to flee behind the counter before pepper-spraying the suspect, who "fell onto the floor." The victim then locked the doors and waited for police to arrive, at which time the suspect was taken into custody.
Friday, July 1st
Police responded to the San Francisco Botanical Garden at 9:30am to investigate a report that an unknown assailant shoved an 80-year-old man from behind so they could mug him for his camera.
After the victim was on the ground, the suspect snatched the camera from the victim's neck strap and fled the scene. The victim was not injured.
SFPD Park Station holds a monthly community meeting on the second Tuesday of each month. The next session will be on July 12th at 6pm at 1899 Waller St.
Taraval Station is conducting a Community Relations Forum Meeting on Tuesday, July 19, 2016 from 7 - 9pm at the station (2345 24th Ave.). On Monday, July 11th, members of the community are invited to join Taraval District officers for Coffee With A Cop from 8-10am at Java Beach Cafe (2650 Sloat Blvd).
