Richmond Station police activity: Slow down on Fulton and Geary; driver boozy before breakfast; wanted man gives cop the silent treatment

This is an excerpt of the Aug. 3 newsletter of San Francisco Police Capt. Sharon Ferrigno of Richmond Station, which is responsible for the Richmond District and Golden Gate Park.

Captain’s Message

(The captain’s message for this week is from Acting Captain Milanda Moore)

The summer is in full swing with numerous events in the Richmond District. With the events come traffic issues that are inevitable due to large numbers of people coming to Golden Gate Park. The events that will occur in Golden Gate Park may create delays on Fulton Avenue and Park Presidio. Residents are advised to plan their trips wisely by adding a little extra time to negotiate their routes. The end of August will mark the first round of the 34th America’s Cup World Series 2012 along the San Francisco waterfront. This event will be held outside of our district boundaries, yet it is prudent to be aware of possible re-routes throughout the city. If you need information for traffic our friends at 311 have told me that they are ready to field calls and provide information.

We at Richmond Station will utilize traffic calming measures to protect the citizens that travel our streets. Our focus continues to be on the speed limits on Fulton at all intersections. Trying to slow down drivers that attempt to use Fulton as a freeway through a residential area is our constant concern. Several officers at Richmond Station have recently received forty hours of radar and lidar training. Drivers may soon find themselves pulled over by one of these officers if they race through our district without due caution.

Pedestrian safety on Geary Boulevard is another area we have been devoting our attention. Captain Ferrigno is working with MTA on measures to ensure the safety of this major thoroughfare. Our goal is to have drivers heed the vast amount of current signs along Geary Boulevard alerting them to pedestrian right of way in certain intersections. I live in the city and my rule of thumb is if I see a sign with a stick figure walking, I slow down and look for pedestrians on either side of the street before proceeding. Word to the wise, if you are texting, talking on a cell phone, or simply not paying attention to the signs and come dangerously close to a pedestrian as a result, you risk being pulled over by one of our officers. Do not be one of the unfortunate drivers that gets caught in our web. This form of traffic enforcement is a direct response to community requests for more safety on our roads. We all must do our share to make the district safe.

Our next Community meeting will be held on Tuesday, August 21, 2012 at 6pm.  It will be in the Community Room, here at Richmond Station, 461 6th Ave.  (NOTE TIME CHANGE)

Richmond Station distributes an email newsletter every Friday.  Our newsletter, which is sent to several hundred email addresses, contains information about recent crimes, arrests and upcoming events in the District.   To be added to this list, please email us at SFPD.RICHMOND.STATION@SFGOV.ORG.

Captain Sharon Ferrigno
Sharon.Ferrigno@sfgov.org

Noteworthy Arrests

Driving While Under the Influence of Alcohol, Driving While Under the Influence of Drugs, Vehicle, Recovered, Auto 120-600-704 On July 30, at approximately 8:08 AM, Richmond Station received regarding a report of an intoxicated driver with an open container. Officers responded to the area and discovered the vehicle performing a U-turn at 22nd Avenue and Geary Blvd, they initiated a traffic stop. All three occupants of the vehicle appeared to be intoxicated. Officers also observed multiple open alcoholic beverage containers within the vehicle, as described in the initial report. The driver was unable to produce a driver’s license, and stated he did not have a current valid driver’s license.  When asked about ownership of the vehicle, the driver stated that he had borrowed it from a friend. Officers conducted a Field Sobriety Test, the results of which indicated that the driver was intoxicated. The driver was arrested and was taken to Mission Station. During their investigation officers discovered the vehicle involved had been reported stolen, and would then be held until the owner could verify the vehicle was indeed his. Meanwhile at Richmond Station one of the passengers while being released became combative with officers in the front of the station. The passenger first became verbally abusive, then physically aggressive when asked to leave, whereupon he physically attacked an officer. The passenger was then booked on battery charges later at County Jail # 1. The vehicle was released to the owner.

Warrant Arrest, Enroute to Outside Jurisdiction, Resisting, Delaying, or Obstructing Peace Officer Duties, Municipal Code Violation (General) 120-598-541 On July 29, at approximately 10:35 AM, an officer was on patrol in plain clothes, in an unmarked police vehicle, when the officer noticed a male subject behaving suspiciously. The subject demonstrated behavior consistent with an individual who may burglarize vehicles. Based on the officers training and experience, the officer followed the subject for a short distance whereupon the subject began urinating on a tree in plain view of the officer. The officer identified himself as an SFPD officer and arrested the subject. The subject refused to speak, preferring to respond through head gestures. When asked to identify himself on paper, the subject responded by writing obviously false names, and refused to add his date of birth. The subject refused to consent to fingerprinting and struggled with officers in an attempt to avoid collection of his fingerprints. Working with San Francisco Sheriff’s Deputies, officers used a city database to identify the subject. The subject was booked into county jail.

Noteworthy Incidents

Battery, Former Spouse or Dating Relationship  On July 31, at approximately 2:42 PM, officers responded to a report of domestic violence in the district. The assailant was arrested and booked into county jail, and an emergency protective order was issued to prevent contact between the two parties.

Robbery, Street or Public Place, W/Force, Robbery, Attempted, Street or Public Place, W/Force 120-605-942 On August 1, at around 12:29 AM, officers responded to a report of a robbery on Cabrillo St. and 15th Avenue. Both victims at the scene were in good health, and declined any medical treatment. A witness and the victims provided descriptions of the assailants. A short search did not turn up the suspects.