Police Blotter

Commercial Burglary, Possession of Narcotics: Dec. 17, 7:40 p.m., 3100 Block of California Street
The suspect entered a video store and was immediately recognized by a worker who had seen the suspect take merchandise before. As the suspect walked around the store looking at DVDs, the employee asked him several times if he needed assistance. The suspect told the employee he did not need help and continued walking around the store, carrying a DVD of "The Spy Who Loved Me."

After the 34-year-old suspect left the store, the employee checked the DVD that the suspect was carrying and discovered that it had been opened and the disc was missing. A quick search of the premises turned up several other DVDs that had been tampered with and their contents missing. The employee ran outside and saw the suspect leaving in a pickup truck. He alertly copied the vehicle's license plate and called police.

Officers responded to the scene and ran a computer check on the vehicle which was registered to a man living on Eighth Avenue. They proceeded to the suspect's home location and waited. When the suspect arrived home, officers stopped him at gunpoint because a witness had said he appeared to be armed. After securing the suspect, officers discovered a Leatherman tool, often used for breaking into DVD cases, and several bags of what appeared to be heroin on the front seat of the pickup. A further search turned up additional bags of suspected heroin and a "cooker" spoon.

The employee at the video store was transported to the suspect's location and gave officers a positive identification of the suspect as the one who had taken the DVD discs. The employee said the suspect could be seen tampering with the DVDs on the store's security surveillance system. The discs were not located. The suspect was arrested and booked at Richmond Station. The suspected drugs were dropped off at the departmentÕs Narcotics Drop Box at the Hall of Justice.

Street Robbery, with Gun: Dec. 16, 9:32 a.m., 3100 Block of California Street
A store employee was leaving a business to go to the bank with some receipts when the suspect approached him. "Give me the f___ing money before I blow your head off," the suspect said. The suspect had his hand in his jacket pocket, intimating that he had a gun.

The employee gave the suspect a canvas bag he was carrying but the suspect could tell the bag felt very light. "WhereÕs the money?" the suspect queried. Fearing for his life, the employee reached into his front pants pocket and produced $450 that was part of the day's deposit. The suspect, who was about 20 years old, then demanded that the victim shake his hand to make it appear that the two were friends. He then proceeded on foot westbound on California Street.

An employee of a business across the street from where the robbery took place had noticed the suspect loitering and felt that he was up to no good. The employee, who did not yell to warn the victim because the suspect could have had a weapon, took two Polaroid photographs of the robbery and gave them to police officers who responded to the scene. A video surveillance system at the store where the victim worked also captured images of the suspect.

Fraudulent Game or Trick, Obtaining Money or Property: Dec. 12, 3:30 p.m., Third Avenue and Clement Street
A man was in his car waiting to enter traffic on Clement Street when one of the suspects approached the car while talking on a cell phone. The suspect asked where the closest Catholic Church was and gave the victim his cell phone, saying his attorney was on the other end. The fake attorney told the victim that his client, the suspect who approached the vehicle, had inherited $12,000 but that he could not take it with him to his home in Sierra Leong because the government would think that he was using the money to purchase guns. He recommended that the suspect give the money to charity.

The suspect said he had a flight to Africa the next night and that he would need help distributing the money. The 25-year-old victim transported the suspect to Geary Boulevard and Gough Street, where a Catholic Church is located. When they arrived, a third suspect arrived at the scene. The third suspect said he had been driving around in a taxi for three hours, an exercise that had cost him $500. The suspect who had driven with the victim from the Richmond District gave the third suspect $15 to help him out.

As the suspect was walking away, the first suspect called him back and explained his "dilemma" to him. The third suspect agreed to help the men distribute the cash to charity but the original suspect said the two men would have to withdraw funds to prove they were trustworthy. The victim drove the two suspects to the location where the third suspect lived and he returned to the car with a reported $6,000. The original suspect took the $6,000 and combined it with his $12,000 - flashing the wad of cash so the victim could see it.

Now it was time for the victim to show good faith. The victim drove to his bank and withdrew $4,100, which he gave to the suspects. The suspects took the money and walked away, telling the victim that he should trust them and that they would be back. They never returned.

Fraud investigators told the victim to take his car to Pier 29 for processing to see if any evidence could be culled. They also arranged to have squad cars pass the victimÕs residence because the suspects were left alone in the vehicle when he went into the bank, allowing the suspects an opportunity to look at the vehicleÕs registration - and the victim's home address.

Battery: Dec. 13, 9 p.m., Unit Block of Temescal Terrace
A property owner had a car towed that was blocking her driveway. A short time later, two suspects rang her doorbell and asked if she had the vehicle towed. When the victim replied that she did, the two suspects, one male and one female, started cussing her out.

The victim opened the front patio entrance she was standing behind and told the suspects to leave. The suspects, however, both started punching the victim in the head and chest area before fleeing in an unknown vehicle. The 42-year-old victim, who did not need medical attention, said she could identify the suspects. She has concerns that the suspects, who are approximately 25 to 30 years old, may return for vengeance because they know where she lives.

Street Robbery with Weapon: Dec. 9, 9:49 p.m., Sutro Bath House Ruins
A couple finished eating dinner and decided to go for a walk at the Sutro Bath ruins near the Pacific Ocean. While looking at the Pacific Ocean, six males, 18 to 22 years old wearing dark hooded jackets with bandannas covering their eyes, approached the couple and asked for a cigarette. When the 23-year-old victim said "no," one of the suspects punched the victim in the head, causing him to fall. When he tried to get up, the other five suspects jumped on top of him, hitting him multiple times and slamming his head on the ground twice.

When he was down, one of the suspects removed the victim's wallet, containing about $50. When the female victim tried to help her boyfriend, one of the suspects broke a beer bottle and pointed it at her, demanding that she stop. The victim went to St. Francis Hospital, where he was treated for lacerations on the bridge of his nose and back of his neck. Stitches were not required to close the wounds.

The couple, who feared for their lives, said the suspects were short and appeared to be "gang" members.

Indecent Exposure: Nov. 19, 11:51 a.m., Fulton Street between Park Presidio Boulevard and 36th Avenue
A Muni bus driver called police to report a man who exposed himself while driving westbound on Fulton Street. According to the female driver, the suspect pulled behind the bus at Park Presidio Boulevard and followed it for a short distance. Then the driver of the vehicle pulled alongside the bus, where the driver could see that he is not wearing any pants.

The driver then sped up to pass the bus and drove several blocks before turning his vehicle around so he could pass the bus again going in the opposite direction. According to the Muni driver, the same person has done this on three different occasions. The suspect, who is about 40 years old, drives a white Dodge Durango.
The police department's sex crimes unit was notified for further investigation.