There’s a new captain at Central Station. Capt. Paul Yep, who ran the station for nearly two years, has been assigned to the SFPD’s Staff Services Division. Taking over at Central is Capt. Robert Yick, who transferred over from the Taraval Police District. Yick has been in law enforcement since 1992 and is a fourth-generation San Franciscan.
Central Station serves Chinatown, the Financial District, Fisherman’s Wharf, Nob Hill, North Beach, Russian Hill, and Telegraph Hill.
Meanwhile over at Northern Station (which serves Japantown, the Marina, Pacific Heights, Polk Gulch, Russian Hill, and Western Addition), Capt. Joseph Engler’s end-of-year message included some good news: “Through a concerted effort using an expansion of the number of Northern officers assigned to foot beats and a citywide ‘Park Smart’ messaging campaign, auto break-ins were reduced by over 1,500 incidents, for a 23.3 percent reduction in the district.” That’s good news indeed, especially if that number continues to go downward.
Engler added that in 2019, there will be more work to be done on “homeless-related crime, blight, and addiction-related issues.”
Here’s a sampling of recent crimes in the districts covered by the Central and Northern SFPD stations.
BOOSTERS BUSTED
Nov. 24
Location not provided
Officers responding to a call about an auto boost in progress located four subjects attempting to hide from them. Once they realized the police had located them, they took off and a foot pursuit ensued. The officers eventually located three subjects hiding underneath a vehicle, and the fourth was hiding between two nearby buildings.
The subjects were placed in handcuffs. The female subject began to resist arrest and kicked an officer in the leg. The officer wasn’t injured and was able to calm down the subject. A cold show of the subjects to witnesses resulted in the positive identification of three of the four subjects. Property from the victims’ vehicles were also found with the subjects; three of them were cited and released, and the four was booked.
THE OTHER RESISTANCE
Dec. 2
Francisco and Powell Streets
A vandal had hit eight vehicles in the immediate area. The suspect had damaged side mirrors, windshield wipers, license plate frames, and license plates; he had also dented and scratched cars.
Officers located the suspect; despite his attempt to flee on foot, officers were able to grab him. He resisted arrest and kicked the arresting officers, but after a brief struggle, he was taken into custody and booked at County Jail for vandalism, battery on a police officer, and resisting police officers.
MAIL PICKUP
Dec. 9
1000 Block of Washington Street
A witness told police he saw two subjects in the area and heard a metal popping sound; the subjects walked away with mail. The officers located two subjects matching the witness’ description, and the bag of one of the subjects contained mail belonging to victims on the 1000 block of Washington Street.
The suspects were booked at County Jail for burglary, vandalism, parole violation, possession of stolen property, possession of burglary tools, and conspiracy.
BAGMEN
Dec. 9
300 Block of Beach Street
Plainclothes officers conducting a vehicle burglary abatement operation in a parking garage noted two vehicles had been broken into; suspect number one was behind one of the vehicles, and the officers recognized him from prior arrests. The suspect then fled through a stairwell, but officers chased him and eventually took him into custody.
Officers saw suspect number two running out of the parking garage after suspect number one; officers detained the second suspect and found shards of glass in the suspect’s hoodie pocket. Surveillance video from the garage showed the suspects enter the garage without bags in their hands, approach a vehicle, and then carry away two bags.
The suspects were booked at County Jail for burglary, conspiracy, possession of stolen property, and possession of burglary tools.
LOCAL CALL
Dec. 20
Franklin and Clay Streets
A male victim returned to his parked car, found it had been burglarized, and his backpack was missing from the trunk. Walking around the immediate area, he spotted a suspect rifling through his backpack and confronted the man. The suspect became verbally and then physically aggressive, at one point attempting to stab the victim in the stomach with a knife.
Officers on patrol heard a woman yelling, “Call the police!” and saw the suspect and the victim struggling over the backpack. Upon seeing the uniformed officers, the suspect fled on foot. He was chased down by the officers and arrested; they were able to recover the knife where it had been dropped.
SAME DAY, ANOTHER CAR, ANOTHER BACKPACK
Dec. 20
Franklin and Washington Streets
Officers responded to a call about an auto burglary in progress. Armed with a description of the subject, the officers canvassed the area and located the subject, who was in possession of a bicycle, backpack, and bag that had been taken in the auto burglary. The officers located the victim and an independent witness.
