It's time for another round-up of notable activity reported by SFPD's Tenderloin Station in the weeks since our last round-up. All details come from official police reports, unless otherwise noted.
Feds launch year-long initiative to reduce Tenderloin crime
On August 7, David L. Anderson, the new U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of California, announced a new federal effort to reduce violent crime and drug trafficking in the Tenderloin.
The new Federal Initiative for the Tenderloin will unify the efforts of 15 federal law enforcement agencies, from the FBI to the DEA. Intended to last at least a year, it will work to combat drug and human trafficking, firearms offenses, robberies, false passport and visa sales, postal crimes, identity theft and benefits fraud.
At a press conference, Anderson said the team-up has already resulted in federal charges against 32 individuals. He also noted that the effort "will not be directed at innocent homelessness… [or] drug use or possession without distribution.”
Tenderloin police arrest 73 in six-hour sting
Also on August 7, Tenderloin Station officers conducted a six-hour sting operation that resulted in 73 arrests, with 66 suspects booked into county jail. The Tenderloin Police District was assisted by San Francisco sheriff's deputies, state parole agents, and officers from the neighboring Southern police station.
Many of the fugitives arrested had outstanding arrest warrants issued by courts throughout the Bay Area, for offenses including narcotics crimes, aggravated assaults, burglaries, theft, sex offenses and domestic violence. The sting is the latest in a series of attempts by SFPD to arrest people in the Tenderloin with outstanding warrants.
Woman loses purse in late-night robbery
Around 11:30 p.m. on August 5, near the intersection of Turk and Jones streets, a woman said to be 20 years old grabbed a 34-year-old woman’s purse and fled. No arrest has been made.
Woman keeps purse, loses phone in afternoon assault
Just before 4 p.m. on August 5, a man said to be in his twenties grabbed a 52-year-old woman’s cell phone and attempted to snatch her purse on the 600 block of Market Street (near Montgomery).
The victim was able to retain her purse, but the suspect fled on foot with her phone. He has not been identified.
Man punched, robbed after verbal argument
A man, said to be 45 years old, got into a verbal argument with another 45-year-old male on the 100 block of Turk Street (near Taylor) around 12:45 p.m. on August 4.
One of the men pushed the other several times, then fled on foot with the injured man's cell phone. The victim was treated for non-life-threatening injuries.
Man beaten, pepper-sprayed by unknown assailants
Around 8:23 p.m. on August 2, a 24-year-old man was beaten and pepper-sprayed by unknown suspects near the intersection of Turk and Taylor streets. The victim’s phone was stolen, and he refused medical treatment.
Woman loses phone after argument escalates
A 22-year-old woman got into a physical altercation with another woman, said to be in her early twenties, on the 800 block of Market Street (near Stockton) around 6:14 p.m. on July 31.
The victim dropped her bag on the ground during the fight, and the suspect stole her cellphone from the bag before fleeing on foot. No arrests have been made.
Officer sustains head wound while making arrest
An SFPD officer was injured on the afternoon of July 30 when he chased a drug dealer on the 600 block of Eddy Street, heading north on Larkin Street.
The officer, who has been with the department for six years, suffered a head wound during the arrest of the 28-year-old male dealer.
Anyone with information about any of the above incidents is encouraged to contact SFPD via its anonymous tip line at (415) 575-4444, or email [email protected].
Community members can also attend Tenderloin Station's monthly meetings, held on the last Tuesday evening of the month at precinct headquarters (301 Eddy St.).
