Crime

Edwin Ramos Sentenced to Life in Prison

Edwin Ramos, the 25-year-old convicted on three counts of first degree murder, will likely spend the rest of his life in prison. This morning, San Francisco Superior Court Judge Charles Haines sentenced him to three consecutive life terms, without the possibility of parole. This comes about a mont ... More >>

Deon Walker Identified as Teen Killed Over Memorial Day Weekend; Homicide No. 28

Authorities have identified the teen who was shot to death in the Bayview this weekend as 18-year-old Deon Walker. At about 2:15 a.m. on Saturday, neighbors called police, saying they had heard several gunshots in the area. Police arrived to the unit block of Baldwin Court where they found Walker de ... More >>

Police Want Public's Help Nabbing Serial Bank Robbers

San Francisco inspectors are asking that you keep an eye out for these suspects who are wanted in connection with several local bank robberies.The first robbery happened on April 30 at about 11:30 a.m. The suspect walked into a bank on the 300 block of Clay Street and demanded money from the teller. ... More >>

William Castillo Identified as Man Murdered in Visitaction Valley; Homicide No. 27

(Update 4 p.m.): The Medical Examiner has identified the man killed early this morning as 21-year-old William Castillo of San Francisco. (Original story 9:10 a.m.): A 23-year-old man was shot to death early this morning near the Sunnydale Housing Projects, according to police. Sgt. Daryl Fong said j ... More >>

Edwin Ramos Convicted of First Degree Murder in Bologna Family Killing

Edwin Ramos was convicted today of killing a San Francisco man and his two sons. The Superior Court jury, after a week of deliberation, found him guilty on three counts of first degree murder. The three month-long trial stemmed from the June 2008 shootings of Tony Bologna, 48, and his sons Michael, ... More >>

Another Civil Servant Accused of Domestic Violence

A Japanese diplomat based in San Francisco has been accused of not being so diplomatic when he allegedly beat his wife repeatedly, pushed her out of a car, and knocked her tooth out. According to press reports, 32-year-old Yoshiaki Nagaya, a San Bruno resident, appeared in court yesterday to answer ... More >>

Feds Conduct Major Sweep of Violent Bay Area Street Gang, Three Shot

Federal authorities arrested dozens of local gang members today during a regional raid of two Peninsula-based street gangs, the 500 Block and the C Street Gang. As reported earlier this morning, three Homeland Security Agents were injured after being shot while making arrests in Petaluma related to ... More >>

Jaquan Morton Identified as Teen Shot to Death in Bayview

Authorities have identified the teen who was killed in a triple shooting in the city's Bayview neighborhood over the weekend as 17-year-old Jaquan Morton. Morton, a San Francisco resident, was shot in the chest Friday evening along with two other teens. Police say the other victims, ages 18 and 19, ... More >>

Lawrence Richardson Shot to Death in Western Addition; Homicide No. 18

Medical authorities have identified 21-year-old Lawrence Richardson as the man who was fatally shot last night as he walked out of a corner store on Eddy Street. Police said someone fire at Richardson, a San Francisco resident, as he stood on the sidewalk at the 1800 block of Eddy Street near Divisi ... More >>

Jahmad Karriem Identified as Man Shot in Ingleside; Homicide No. 17

​Medical Authorities have identified the man who was shot and killed late Sunday night as 20-year-old Jahmad Karriem. Police were called to the 300 block of Louisburgh Street at 11:33 p.m, and found Karriem shot in the chest.

How the Sheriff Came to This: Mirkarimi's Worst Decisions

Domestic Violence Groups Feature Ross Mirkarimi Quote in Spanish Billboards

​It doesn't matter how many times Ross Mirkarimi apologizes for his "arrogance and anger issues," women in San Francisco aren't ready to forgive -- or forget. And it will be hard for the now-suspended sheriff to forget his troubles as long as there are these billboards up to remind him of what he' ... More >>

Public Defender Says Drunk Drivers Didn't Get Fair Sobriety Tests

​Not many people would come to the defense of a convicted drunk driver. However, San Francisco's inebriated drivers might find themselves off the hook for their crime -- and if so, they have Public Defender Jeff Adachi to thank. Adachi today officially filed a legal challenge that accuses the San ... More >>

The Columbine Effect: Why Hollywood Is Keeping the Story Alive

Domestic Violence Groups Ask Mayor Ed Lee to Boot Sheriff Ross Mirkarimi from His Post

​Prosecutors might have let Sheriff Ross Mirkarimi off the hook with charges of abusing his wife, but women's groups across San Francisco aren't quite so ready to forgive. Today, a coalition of anti-domestic violence groups will march to City Hall, demanding that Mayor Ed Lee boot Mirkarimi from h ... More >>

Domestic Violence Billboard with Ross Mirkarimi Quote up for Everyone to See

You might notice a new billboard on the corner of Harrison and 10th streets during your commute today -- you may even recognize a face on it. A local domestic violence group unveiled its new Ross Mirkarimi-inspired billboard Thursday afternoon, which references Sheriff Mirkarimi's disturbing quote ... More >>

Rodney Pool Charged with Murdering Rebekah Wilson; Homicide No. 5

​Homicide investigators have arrested a 59-year-old man in connection with the murder of Rebekah Wilson, 37, at the Winsor Hotel earlier this month. According to police, officers were called to the hotel, located at 20 Sixth St., just before 7 p.m. on Feb. 2. When they arrived, they foun ... More >>

Domestic Violence Group to Feature Ross Mirkarimi Quote on Billboard

La Casa De Las Madres​When Ross Mirkarimi was elected sheriff, he had ambitious plans to influence the criminal justice system, although this billboard to the right probably isn't what he had in mind. However, after being charged with battery, endangering a child, and dissuading a witness, La Casa ... More >>

Ricky Leon Scott Accused of Murdering Man in Homeless Shelter

​Police say they arrested 63-year-old Ricky Leon Scott on suspicion of stabbing to death a 44-year-old man at a homeless shelter yesterday evening. According to Sgt. Daryl Fong, officers caught up with Scott about 10 minutes after the stabbing occurred at the Multi-Service Center South shelter in ... More >>

Donald Tosti, Marin Psychologist, Sent to Prison for Posession of "Very Graphic" Child Porn

​A San Rafael psychologist has been sent to prison for eight years after he was busted having child porn on his computer, which included disturbing depictions of rape scenes with very young children. Donald Tosti, 76, was convicted in San Francisco in September 2011, after he took his computer to ... More >>

Employee Allegedly Robs Own Store, Forgets Surveillance Camera Is on

Some people just don't make enough time for a square meal ​Here's a good one for dumbcrooks.comA woman working at a commercial store on the 2700 block of Mission Street had the brilliant idea of staging a fake robbery inside her own store. But her brilliance was quickly eclipsed by her idiocy when ... More >>

Rory Jones Identified as Man Shot to Death: Homicide No. 2

another man shot ​Update: (1 p.m.) Medical authorities identified the man who was shot to death last night as 30-year-old Rory Jones, an Oakland resident. Police told reporters that Jones was sitting in his car when the suspect approached him and asked him if he had any "weight" -- a street term f ... More >>

Ross Mirkarimi Update: Domestic Violence Groups Call on Sheriff to Resign

​Update 2:25 p.m.: Staff writer Joe Eskenazi was at City Hall and gave us a puzzling detail about this afternoon's press conference: Mirkarimi's wife, Eliana Lopez, stood in the crowd among reporters and anti-domestic violence advocates who were calling on her husband to resign as sheriff. Eskenaz ... More >>

Ross Mirkarimi Shocks Legal Scholars With Claim That Abuse Allegations Are "a Family Matter"

​Ross Mirkarimi is innocent. Of course he is -- he is innocent until proven guilty. It remains to be seen if District Attorney George Gascón will even  charge the sheriff with domestic abuse following a police report filed by Mirkarimi's neighbor. Regardless, the language Mirkarimi has used ... More >>

Frederick A. Dozier: Police Release Photo of Accused Mission District Rapist

Sexual Assault Suspect ​Mission District residents can take some comfort in knowing that the cops have indeed caught a suspect who they believe is responsible for three brutal sexual assaults over the last six months, police said. On Friday, police said they arrested 32-year-old Federick Dozier af ... More >>

San Francisco Rings in 2012 with No DUI-Related Deaths

​What better way to kick off the New Year than to just be alive? Police are thrilled to report that not one single person was killed in DUI-related accidents over the holidays, and that includes Christmas and New Years -- when people are expected to booze carelessly. Perhaps part of the reason nob ... More >>

Man Robbed While Peeing in North Beach Alley

Those robbers really took the piss out of him​If you're a robber looking to score an easy victim -- urine luck!Police say that a San Francisco man was robbed as he urinated in an alley at about 1:55 a.m. on Friday. According to police, the man had met friends at a nearby bar, and as they were deci ... More >>

Oakland Sexual Assault: SFPD Looking for Possible Connection to Mission District Rapes

Another sexual assault reported, but this one was in Oakland​San Francisco's Mission District has been on edge over two recent brutal rapes, which police believe involve the same suspect. With no real leads, police told SF Weekly they are now "looking into" possible similarities with an early-morn ... More >>

Cops Shoot Man During Traffic Stop

Gunfire in the Lower Nob Hill hood​Police shot and wounded an unidentified man who opened fire on them as they pulled him over during a traffic stop in the Lower Nob Hill area this afternoon. Officers made a traffic stop at about 1:30 p.m. on the corner of Larkin and Bush streets. As officers appr ... More >>

Charlie Bell, Golden State Warriors Player, Allegedly Shows Up to DUI Hearing Drunk

Slammed Drunk?​In what appears to be a boozy cry for help, Golden State Warriors guard Charlie Bell allegedly went to his DUI hearing -- drunk.Bell was taken to jail Thursday in his hometown of Flint, Mich., after a scheduled alcohol screening showed that Bell's blood alcohol content level was .09 ... More >>

Guillermo Herrera, MS-13 Gang Member, Gets Life in Prison

Life in prison probably won't do much to stop them ​Guillermo Herrera, better known as "Sparky," a San Francisco M-13 gang member, was sentenced today to life in prison for racketeering related charges. He is the last of six convicted MS-13 members to receive a life sentence. Herrera and his five ... More >>

The Boy Scouts' Police Problem: Explorers Have Been Sexually Abused by Cops. Should Scouts Share the Blame?

People Aren't Killing Each Other as Much in California

Fewer opporuntities to say "redrum" in California ​Despite all the horrible crises we read about every day (budget, education, etc), Californians have much to be proud of -- the scenic beauty, the diverse culture, and get this: We aren't killing each other as much as we used to. According to Gener ... More >>

Hate Expectations: Police and Prosecutors Are Quick to Claim the Presence of Racism — but Juries Are Not So Sure

Danilo "Triste" Velasquez, San Francisco MS-13 Gang Leader, Convicted In Federal Court

​An MS-13 gang member who rose to a leadership position and demanded others continue the violence even after a federal take-down drained the gang's San Francisco ranks was convicted in federal court of RICO conspiracy today.Danilo "Triste" Velasquez (triste is Spanish for "sad") now faces 10 years ... More >>

Reynaldo Cordova Identified as Man Shot in Mission District

Man shot​Medical authorities have identified the man who was shot to death during a heated argument last week as 26-year-old Reynaldo Cordova. Cordova, a San Francisco resident, was on 23rd and Harrison streets on Friday morning when he got into a verbal fight with three men. One of the suspects p ... More >>

Man Shot to Death in the Mission; Homicide No. 45

Another Mission shooting​A 26-year-old man was shot and killed last night after he got into a verbal argument with three men in the Mission District. According to police, the victim, who has not yet been identified, was on Harrison and 23rd streets at about 1:40 a.m. Friday when the fight started. ... More >>

Roberto Acosta, MS-13 Informant Convicted of Lying, Wants Out of Jail

The MS-13 snitch thinks the government is ungrateful for his help. ​Roberto "Bad Boy" Acosta, the MS-13 gang informant who for years gave federal agents details about San Francisco's branch of the gang, faces sentencing in federal court next week for lying to his handlers about how many people he' ... More >>

Feds Want Maximum Prison Time for Roberto Acosta, MS-13 Informant Who Lied

The government's snitch is about to get sentenced. ​Federal prosecutors are pushing for the maximum five-year sentence for the criminal informant who was shaping up to be their star witness in the case against San Francisco's MS-13 clique. But his future took a turn when Roberto Acosta was instead ... More >>

Ronnie Tiger, Bayview Shooting Victim, Dies 10 Years Later

Shooting victim dies a decade later​The Examiner brings us a unusual story today about 30-year-old Ronnie Tiger who had been laying in a hospital bed, unable to do anything except blink or smile for more than 10 years after being gunned down in 2001. Tiger, a City College student, was shot point b ... More >>

Anthony Wright Arrested on Suspicion of Shooting Bernal Heights Man in the Head

​Update (4:50 p.m.) Police arrested 34-year-old Anthony Wright on suspicion of killing a 28-year-old man who has not yet been identified. Media outlets are reporting that the victim was playing video games with his friends when Wright arrived and shot him in the head. Update (11:00 a.m.) Officer A ... More >>

Ernesto Manuel Gonzalez Accused of Killing Hells Angels President

​UCSF police last night arrested an alleged motorcycle gang member on suspicion of shooting and killing the president of the San Jose Hells Angels while at a casino in Nevada last week. Ernesto Manuel Gonzalez, who is purportedly a member of the Vagos motorcycle gang, was taken into custody at abo ... More >>

Gun Violence Continues: Man Shot in Ingleside District

More gun violence​A 18-year-old man is in critical condition after he was shot yesterday morning while driving through the Ingleside neighborhood. Police say the victim and another man were driving along San Jose and Geneva avenues at about 11:17 a.m. yesterday when two men in another vehicle drov ... More >>

Another Shooting in the Mission

What's up with all this violence in the Mission?​A man was critically injured after being shot in the Mission District, marking the fourth shooting in a weeklong streak of gun violence in the neighborhood. Police issued very few details about yesterday's shooting, which occurred at shortly before ... More >>

Dwayne Spruell Identified as Man Killed in Labor Day Argument

Another homicide ​The man who was shot and killed Monday morning during a heated argument in the Mission District has been identified as 45-year-old Dwayne Spruell. Neighbors told reporters that they heard loud arguing sometime after 2 a.m. on Monday morning near Camp and Guerrero streets, where d ... More >>

Man Shot and Killed During Argument in the Mission; Homicide No. 35

Tex Texin via Flickr ​The Mission District suffered a grim holiday when a man was shot and killed Monday morning in what witnesses described as a heated argument. It's the neighborhood's third murder in the last seven days. Medical authorities told SF Weekly they have not yet identified the victim ... More >>

Teen Shot to Death in Visitacion Valley; Homicide No. 31

Homicide in Visitaction Valley ​An 18-year-old man was shot to death while standing on the sidewalk in Visitacion Valley, police said. The man -- who has not yet been identified -- was standing at the 200 block of Rey Street at about 10 p.m. when two men approached him and fired several shots befo ... More >>