Crime

Oakland Crooks Totally Undeterred by Security Guards Hired to Protect News Reporters

You know crime has gotten out of control when thieves are not only victimizing news reporters, but also the security guards specifically hired to protect news reporters from would-be thieves. Sadly, today another crew of journalists was burglarized during an interview in broad daylight, just a wee ... More >>

Awkward Bank Robber Loses Fake Mustache During Holdup

An armed bank robber hoping to pull off his heist incognito managed to draw even more attention to himself when the phony mustache he was wearing started falling off mid-robbery. According to police, the robber walked into a Bank of America on El Camino Real in Burlingame Wednesday afternoon donni ... More >>

Cops Say Happy Donut Shooting Suspect Still on the Lam and Could Be Dying

San Francisco police are asking for your help in locating the man who shot another man inside a Visitaction Valley Happy Donuts earlier this week. Police say it's urgent, as the suspect could be dying from wounds he got during the robbery. On Monday just before 3 a.m., the armed robber walked into ... More >>

Have You Been Robbed by Dudes in A Maroon-Colored Car Lately?

San Francisco police arrested two men, including one teen, last night, who they believe are responsible for two -- and maybe more -- smartphone strong-armed robberies. Police arrested 19-year-old Edwin Tobie and Ernest Evans, 20, both San Francisco residents, on suspicion of robbery, conspiracy, p ... More >>

Jacob Valdiviezo Identified as College Student Killed in Mission District Shooting

The San Francisco Medical Examiner's Office has identified the 19-year-old man who was gunned down while visiting his family over Easter weekend as Jacob Valdiviezo. According to police, Valdiviezo, was home visiting his family over Spring Break when he was shot to death in an apparent gang-relate ... More >>

Dominic Scott Identified as Man Murdered in Bayview Today

Medical authorities have identified the man who was gunned down early this morning in the city's Bayview District as 22-year-old Dominic Scott. According to the Examiner, neighbors called the cops just before 8:30 a.m. after hearing gunshots. When police arrived at the scene, located at Third Stre ... More >>

Cops Bust Alleged Robbers Linked to Violent Jewelry Heist

San Francisco police have nabbed a trio who they say is responsible for a series of robberies, including a gas station and a jewelry store. The three suspects are identified as Arthur Gonzalez, 34, Gary Green, 20, and Socorro Santiago, 18, all of San Francisco. Police say they found a loaded firea ... More >>

James Craig Davis, Berkeley Bank Robbery Suspect, Arrested in Missouri

On January 16, a man holding a gun stole $6,014 from Mechanics Bank in Berkeley. Security camera footage showed the man point the gun at a teller, then lean over the counter and grab the cash from the drawer. The video also caught a distinguishing feature on the robber: what appeared to be a tatto ... More >>

"Identity Thief": Madcap Anti-Capitalist Hijinks

Is William Bratton Getting Too Much Credit for the Crime Reductions He Oversaw?

There was controversy when Oakland announced that it would hire William Bratton -- former police chief in Boston, New York City, and Los Angeles -- to help improve the city's police department. For the most part, the controversy took two forms. Firstly, there was the issue that cash-strapped Oakla ... More >>

Even Violent Video Games Are a Healthy Outlet for Teens

Seventy-nine years ago, Germans gathered in Berlin's Kaiser-Franz-Josef-Platz one May evening. They piled the books of Karl Marx, Bertolt Brecht and August Bebel (for whom the plaza would later be renamed), and burned them in the name of eliminating "un-German" ideas. On Jan 12, 2013, a group calle ... More >>

Ricardo Asturias, S.F. Man Convicted of Sexual Abuse, Gets 16 Years in Prison

A San Francisco judge has given 68-year-old Ricardo Asturias 16 years and 8 months in state prison for sexually abusing a 4-year-old female relative, as well as possessing child pornography. In addition, the judge ordered Asturias to pay $625,000 in restitution for "non-economic damages," marking t ... More >>

Teen Murdered This Weekend in Bayview, Homicide No. 65

Medical authorities have identified the man who was gunned down Saturday night, but would not release his name until family is notified. What we can tell you is that an 18-year-old man was shot at least once while standing on the block of Osceola Lane at about 10 p.m. on Saturday.

Cops to Teach Cyclists Some New Tricks on How to Avoid Getting Their Bikes Stolen

The only thing more frustrating than getting hit over the head with a high heel by a drunken Marina girl is having your brand-new bike stolen, even though you locked it up. This really isn't hard to believe, but bike theft is on the rise in San Francisco, with more than 500 bikes reported stolen l ... More >>

Feds Bust 11 Suspects Linked to Largest Meth Seizure in U.S. History

A San Francisco federal grand jury has indicted 11 people on suspicion of possessing and distributing large quantities of narcotics. And when police say "large," they're talking more than 570 pounds of crystal methamphetamine. Federal prosecutors announced the arrests today after cops seized the i ... More >>

Alex Eye Bursch, Oakland Swim Coach, Headed to Prison for Sharing Child Pornography

A former elementary school teacher and youth swim coach was sent to prison yesterday for nearly four years after he was found guilty of sharing child pornography images and videos. Alex Eye Bursch was arrested in 2010 at Los Medanos Elementary School where he was a teacher after a tip led authori ... More >>

Cops Bust Four Men Suspected of Child Pornography

Police arrested four people this morning during a multi-agency sting targeting suspected child pornographers in four San Francisco neighborhoods, including SOMA, the Excelsior, Ocean View, and Visitacion Valley. According to police, more than 100 officers from 23 agencies worked to serve search wa ... More >>

Man Shot in the Head, Kid Shot in the Chest Over Another Violent Weekend in S.F.

Separate from the World Series chaos and fires that plagued the city last night, San Francisco had yet another bloody weekend, where multiple people, including a kid, were shot. The first incident happened on Friday about 8 p.m. at the intersection of Keith and Shaftner, where a juvenile female and ... More >>

Jose Escobar Identified as Teen Shot in the Mission District

It was a another violent weekend in San Francisco where two men were killed in separate shooting incidents in the Mission and downtown. Authorities identified one of the victims as 19-year-old Jose Escobar of San Francisco. According to police, Escobar was walking at about 2:45 a.m. on Saturday near ... More >>

Damien Ford, James Ross Accused of Series of Armed Robberies

San Francisco police have arrested two men who allegedly committed two back-to-back armed robberies in less than an hour on Saturday.Officer Albie Esparza tells us that about 9 p.m. the two robbers walked into a store on the 200 block of Noe Street -- one was armed with a shotgun, and both men had t ... More >>

MS-13 Becomes First American-Born Street Gang to Be Marked A "Transnational Criminal Organization" by the Feds

Last week, the U.S. Treasury Department officially labeled MS-13 a transnational criminal organization. No other American-born street gang has earned that distinction, which has previously been given to groups like the Yakuza in Japan and the Zetas in Mexico.The classification speaks to the gang's s ... More >>

Such Great Heists

Accused Bank Robber Attempts to Get Cash, Gets Jail Time Instead

A suspected robber's day at the bank quickly turned into a night in jail after he skillfully demonstrated that he's no Bonnie or Clyde. Around 11:30 a.m. yesterday, the suspect walked into a bank on the 2800 block of Geary Boulevard and told the teller, "This is a robbery, give me all of the money." ... More >>

Hiding in Plain Sight: A Homicide Suspect Spent Four Years on the Lam

Crip-less: S.F.'s Dislike of Franchises Extends to Street Gangs

Dylan Lemalie Arrest: Police Track Down Man Accused of Killing Jesus Solis in Broad Daylight

San Francisco homicide investigators caught up with the 20-year-old armed-and dangerous man who they believe is partly responsible for the shooting death of 21-year-old Jesus Solis. On Tuesday, police arrested Dylan Lemalie of San Francisco at the Hall of Justice and charged him with murder. He had ... More >>

Larry Brinkin, S.F. Gay Rights Activist, Charged With E-Mailing Child Porn Images

Larry Brinkin, San Francisco's well-known gay rights activist, appeared in court this afternoon where he pleaded not guilty to six felony charges of sending and receiving images of child pornography.The charges came three months after Brinkin, 66, was first arrested by San Francisco police, who clai ... More >>

Police Arrest "Tall Guy, Short Guy" in Connection to 11 Robberies

San Francisco police tracked down the two guys -- one tall, one short -- who they say are responsible for holding up a slew of restaurants, phones stores, and even a hot tub business over the last month. Officer Carlos Manfredi says police arrested 40-year-old Ray Faar, of San Francisco, and 48-year ... More >>

Jesse W. Nesbitt, Accused Brick Tosser, Is Missing Occupy's Birthday Due to Court Date

While the rest of his casserole-eating cohorts march through the streets of San Francisco today to observe Occupy's first birthday, 34-year-old Jesse W. Nesbitt, the perpetual object-tosser at Occupy protests, has been forced to decline that party invite. Instead, the barbaric protester will spend t ... More >>

Californians Don't Hate Each Other as Much as They Used To

Well, this might help explain last year's mass exodus to Texas.The California Attorney General's Office released some uplifting stats that show Californians have less hostility -- or at least they're not acting on it -- than in previous years. The AG welcomed the numbers which show an over ... More >>

Endorse the Federal Narcotics Price Support Program and Other Drug War Euphemisms

To win a war, one must win the minds of the people (unless one chooses to vaporize said minds with a superweapon instead).So the next time you step over a crack-addled soul sprawled out on a Tenderloin sidewalk or dodge a gang of teenagers trying to sell you weed at the Stanyan Street entrance to Go ... More >>

Jonathan Bullock Killed in Lower Pac Heights Shooting

Medical authorities have identified the 38-year-old man who was shot to death over Labor Day weekend as Jonathan Bullock of San Francisco. Officer Gordon Shyy says Bullock was on the 1500 block of Broderick at about 4:20 a.m. on Saturday when two men fired multiple shots at the victim. The suspects ... More >>

Cops Arrest Men Wanted for Serial Robberies in the Richmond District

Richmond District businesses can relax a little now that police have busted the men they say are responsible for a slew of heists, including a restaurant and a jewelry store. Sgt. Michael Andraychak says police arrested a 50-year-old man, a 48-year-old man, and a 23-year-old man on suspicion of robb ... More >>

Cops Bust Armed Robbers Red-Handed in Mission District

What are the chances that someone robbed in San Francisco will actually get their stuff back? Today we bring you another story of hardworking San Franciscans who actually got their money back after they were robbed by a trio in the Mission District.On Aug. 22, about 12:02 a.m., the victims -- a 22-y ... More >>

Jacori Bender's Gang Validation Sheet

Jacori Bender -- the now-21-year-old subject in this week's feature story, "Menace to Society" -- became a validated gang member in spring 2011 when a jury convicted him of gun possession and active participation in a criminal street gang (the "gang enhancement").The bulk of evidence for the ga ... More >>

Menace to Society: Why Many Young Black Men are Accused of Being in Gangs

Bifurcated Trials Offer an Alternative in Gang Enhancement Cases

This week's feature, Menace to Society, explores the way police officers and prosecutors label teenagers "gang members" and classify their crimes as "gang related." As a result, these defendants -- such as the story's main subject, Jacori Bender -- face "gang enhancement" charges. Gang enhancements ... More >>

Victor Flores, "Little Creeper," Charged With Trying to Kill Federal Agents in Gang Sweep

A federal grand jury in San Francisco has again indicted 20-year-old Victor Flores, a documented gang member accused of shooting and wounding three federal agents in May. Flores, who is a member of the 500 Block/C Street Gang, is one of 13 suspected gang members arrested on May 3 in connection to a ... More >>

More Gunfire Rattles San Francisco, Two People Shot in Western Addition

 San Francisco police are investigating yet another double shooting this week, which injured two people in their early 20s. Officer Carlos Manfredi tells us that cops heard shots fired about 12:32 p.m. in the area of Steiner and Eddy streets. They "saturated the area" until they found the two v ... More >>

Edmundo Sandoval Identified as Man Killed in Double Shooting Last Night; Homicide No. 45 (Update)

Update (2:27 p.m.): Medical authorities identified the man shot to death as 26-year-old Edmundo Sandoval of San Francisco. Original story (8:51 a.m): Gun violence broke out in the city's Portola neighborhood last night, killing one and critically injuring another man, making it the city's fourth hom ... More >>

Visitacion Valley Hit With More Gunfire Last Night, Just Two Blocks From Double Homicide

Just eight hours after two men were killed in a rowdy fight yesterday afternoon, more shots were fired in Visitacion Valley, capping off a three-day spree of gunfire near the Sunnydale Housing Projects. Nobody was hurt in last night's drive-by, however, the crime was yet another indication that viol ... More >>

Alleged Muni Robber Doubles His Displeasure

An alleged robber was busted twice -- the second time while he was already sitting in jail. San Francisco police say they arrested 21-year-old Devon Williams earlier this week after recognizing him from a surveillance video from a Muni robbery back in January. On July 25, investigators drove to the& ... More >>

Harvey Milk Club Asks Mayor Ed Lee to Leave Ross Mirkarimi Alone Already

Turns out, Tami Bryant and the inmates over at San Francisco County Jail aren't the only ones who want everyone to leave Sheriff-in-limbo Ross Mirkarimi alone.  The Harvey Milk Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Democratic Club this week passed a resolution demanding Mayor Ed Lee let Mirkari ... More >>

Gary Smith Identified as Man Killed in SOMA; Two Arrested

San Francisco police caught the two men who they say shot and killed 25-year-old Gary Smith on Friday night. On Saturday, Union City police arrested Anthony Pratt, 27, of Union City, and Trumillion Ballard, 24, of San Francisco on suspicion of murder. Both were booked into San Francisco County Jail. ... More >>

Consumers to Get More Than $1 Billion From Settlement in LCD Price-Fixing Scam

Did you ever get a strange feeling that you might be getting ripped off when buying your last flat-screen TV, monitor, or laptop? Well, that's probably because you did.Attorney General Kamala Harris announced today that her office, along with seven other attorneys general, got a $571-million settlem ... More >>

Another Journalist Robbed at Gunpoint in Oakland

Journalists over in Oakland are making headlines while trying to get the headlines thanks of a rash of robberies targeting news reporters and cameramen out in the field.On Monday, an Oakland Tribune photographer was out on assignment when she was held up at gunpoint and robbed of her laptop and came ... More >>

Man Killed Near Sunnydale Housing Projects; Homicide No. 39

An 21-year-old man was shot to death in Visitacion Valley last night, according to police. The man was standing outside the front of a house on the 1700 block of Sunnydale at about 7:18 p.m. when an unknown person shot him in the head and in the chest, says Officer Gordon Shyy. The victim was taken ... More >>

Ross Mirkarimi Hearing: Suspended Sheriff Testifies Before Ethics Commission

Sheriff-in-limbo Ross Mirkarimi took the stand Thursday evening in his official misconduct hearing, where he again expressed remorse for his "act of violence" against his wife on New Year's Eve.  As expected, Mayor Ed Lee's legal team took the opportunity to dig into Mirkarimi's conviction for ... More >>

Tony Harper Identified as Man Killed in Double Shooting; Homicide No. 37

Medical authorities confirmed that 27-year-old Tony Harper was killed in a double shooting in the city's Bayview neighborhood on Friday night. Police say there was a second man who was shot and remains at San Francisco General Hospital with life-threatening injuries. According to police, the two men ... More >>

Man Killed in Sunnydale; Homicide No. 36

A 21-year-old man was shot to death last night near the Sunnydale housing projects, the second one in that neighborhood this week.According to Officer Albie Esparza, police were called to the 1800 block of Sunnydale just before 10 p.m. on reports of a man shot. When they arrived, they found the vict ... More >>