FiDi & North Beach Crime: Ride-Share Assault, Beer Thief Nabbed, MorePhoto: Nathan Falstreau/Hoodline
Nathan Falstreau
Published on August 14, 2017

Time for another look at crime in SFPD's Central District, which includes Chinatown, Financial District, Embarcadero, Russian, Telegraph and Nob Hills, North Beach, and Union Square.

Here are some of the incidents that have taken place since our last report. Unless otherwise noted, all reports are based on information from SFPD.

Taylor and Sutter Streets. | Image: Google Maps 

Lower Nob Hill Ride-Hailing Passenger Assaults Two Pedestrians

We reported last week that two pedestrians were assaulted by a 28-year-old ride-hailing passenger in the Lower Nob Hill neighborhood early August 6th. 

The two victims, a 57-year-old man and a 27-year-old man, were jaywalking in the area when the driver of a ride-share vehicle abruptly stopped to avoid hitting the two. 

One of the pedestrians kicked the vehicle, and the 28-year-old passenger got out of the car and punched the 57-year-old man, who lost consciousness. The suspect also punched the 27-year-old man. 

The fight ended when a passerby intervened. The suspect fled on foot, but police later arrested him. 

The victims suffered non-life threatening injuries and were transported to an area hospital. 

Employee Stabbed In Shoplifting Attempt

On August 11th just after midnight on the 500 block of Sutter Street in Union Square, a man in his 50s was allegedly shoplifting items from a store when an employee, a 25-year-old man, attempted to thwart him.

The suspect then stabbed the victim with an unknown sharp object and fled the scene. The victim suffered from minor injuries, but it's not clear from police reports if he was transported to a hospital.

No arrests have been made. 

Armed Mugger Absconds With Cash, Ring

At 11:41pm August 10th at Washington and Drumm Streets near the Ferry Building in the Embarcadero, a robbery at gunpoint occurred.

The victim, a 36-year-old man, was approached by a man in his 30s who pointed a gun at him and demanded he hand over his property. The victim handed over cash and his ring and the suspect fled to an awaiting car driven by a second unknown suspect.

The vehicle then fled westbound on Jackson Street. 

Three Teens Arrested After Pepper-spray Robbery Attempt

Three teens were in a Union Square store allegedly shoplifting items on August 8th at 9:45pm on the 100 block of Powell Street.

As the suspects walked to the exit to leave the premises, three individuals attempted to intervene—two men, 28 and 37-years old, and a woman, 35—who were pepper-sprayed by two of the suspects who then fled the scene.

Officers responded and witnesses identified all three suspects, who were subsequently taken into custody.

The three victims suffered minor injuries from the pepper spray and were treated and released at the scene. Makeup items stolen during the melee were recovered. 

Robbers Punch Man In Head, Steal Phone 

Another robbery occurred in the FiDi on August 6th at 4:30am near the corner of Market and Drumm Streets.

A 35-year-old man was approached by two suspects, one in his mid-20s, when the first suspect punched the victim, causing him to drop his phone. The suspects then snatched the device and fled the scene in an unknown direction.

The victim suffered minor injuries, but was not transported for treatment. 

Unprovoked Driver Knocks Out Pedestrian, Flees 

On Lower Nob Hill on August 4th at 2am near the corner of Post and Taylor Streets, a witness described to police a 47-year-old man walking when an unknown suspect pulled up in a car next to him and exited.

The suspect then punched him in the head causing him to lose consciousness before getting back into his car and fleeing the scene. The victim sustained non-life threatening injuries and was transported to a hospital for treatment.

No arrests have been made. 

Helpful Bystander Nabs Purse Snatcher

On August 3rd at 4:30pm near the corner of 1st and Market Streets in the FiDi, a 54-year-old woman was waiting to cross the street when a 27-year-old man snatched the purse containing cash and credit cards from her shoulder and pushed her to the ground.

A bystander intervened and held down the suspect until police arrived. The victim sustained minor injuries but refused treatment at the scene. Her belongings were recovered by police. 

Robbers Pepper-Spray Man In Union Square Robbery

A robbery occurred on the 400 block of Powell Street in Union Square on August 3rd at 1:30am.

A 32-year-old man invited a woman in her early 20s to his room when she asked him for money and began to text someone on her phone. The victim refused and asked her to leave, but when he opened the door, another woman in her early 20s appeared and pepper-sprayed him in his eyes, causing injury. The two women then took his cash and credit cards and fled on foot.

The victim refused medical treatment and no arrests have been made. 

Beer Thief Pinched After Returning To Scene Of Crime

A 36-year-old man was arrested after allegedly attempting to steal cans of beer from a store on August 2nd at 10:30pm on the 100 block of Jackson Street near the Embarcadero. 

The suspect walked into the store, took cans of beer from the shelf and attempted to leave. A 25-year-old man working as security, stopped the suspect and a fight ensued, but the suspect was able to flee.

Police arrived and the suspect later returned to the scene and was arrested. The victim sustained minor injuries and was treated at the scene.