Noe Valley Voice April 2000
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Police Beat

By Officer Lois Perillo

Jogger Robbed

A 31-year-old woman and resident of Australia was robbed of her jewelry while jogging in the area of 22nd and Dolores streets on Wednesday, Feb. 9, at 11 p.m. The targeted woman was approached from behind by a 35- to 40-year-old man who grabbed her around the neck and pushed an object (presumably a gun) into her back while demanding her jewelry. The woman complied and the suspect fled south on Dolores Street. Luckily, the woman was not physically injured during the incident. Unfortunately, the suspect escaped.

Burglar Caught with Pants Down

Thanks to the quick thinking of a neighbor on the 1200 block of Dolores Street on Wednesday, March 8, a very rainy day, I caught a burglar at about 3 p.m., as he stood naked within the house he had just entered illegally.

The witness directed me to her neighbor's yard and told me she had seen the suspect climb over a fence into the yard and walk up to the main door, but had not seen him leave the property. I climbed into the yard myself and saw that the door was slightly ajar.

By this time, officers Lorraine Lombardo, John Lewis, David Burns, Alex Medina, and Sergeant Tim Oberzeir were guarding the outside perimeter, and Officer Steve Mulkeen had joined me in the yard. As I slowly pushed the front door open with my gun drawn, I saw 32-year-old David Walker standing naked in the living room, his soaking-wet clothes in a pile at his feet. He told me he just wanted to get out of the rain.

Walker had other problems beyond this burglary-in-the-buff, however. He was on parole for -- you guessed it -- burglary, and he was also wanted by the California Department of Corrections for a parole violation. Additionally, Walker had what was believed to be crack cocaine, two crack pipes, and a syringe in his possession, along with a prescription drug he said he had stolen from the house he had just entered.

Walker was taken to Mission Station and booked on three felonies and two misdemeanors. Since his description matched that of a man who had illegally entered homes on Noe and 20th streets, Inspector Mark Sullivan showed a photo lineup to the people targeted in those cases. However, no one picked out Walker as the suspect.

The District Attorney dismissed the new charges against Walker and routed him to San Quentin, where he may serve out the remainder of his prison sentence from the first burglary conviction.

D.V. Rears Its Ugly Head

There were three reported cases of domestic violence in February.

Early in the month, a 34-year-old man and resident of the 1200 block of Dolores Street was arrested for battering a 34-year-old woman with whom he lived. Police charged him with a felony, but the D.A. later reduced it to a misdemeanor. The batterer was released the next day upon posting bond, and the judge issued a "stay-away" order, directing him to have no contact with the woman.

A 38-year-old man and resident of the 1000 block of Noe Street was taken into custody on Sunday, Feb. 20, at 9 p.m. for assaulting a 27-year-old woman with whom he lived. The suspect was charged with a misdemeanor and released the next day.

In the third case, a 55-year-old man and resident of the 1300 block of Dolores Street was arrested on Saturday, Feb. 26, at 6 p.m., after he assaulted his 37-year-old wife and threatened to kill her. Officers Martha Juarez and Shawn McKeever responded to the woman's call for help, and upon taking the man into custody, found that he was intoxicated. They also heard him state that he intended to shoot his wife. The officers requested and obtained an emergency protective order, which compels the man to move from the house and also prohibits contact with his wife.

The suspect was booked on one felony and one misdemeanor, which the D.A. recharged as three misdemeanors. He was held in jail overnight, then released upon posting bond. The suspect agreed to enroll in a counseling program and remains free, pending court appearances to evaluate his progress.

Disturbing Bat-and-Run

While walking south on Dolores toward 21st Street on Tuesday, Feb. 1, at 10:30 p.m., a 29-year-old man was confronted by two male teenagers, one of whom was wielding a baseball bat and blocking his path. When the second teen asked the man, "What's up, fool?" the first teen swung the bat at the man, striking his shoulder. Meanwhile, the second teen pulled out a hammer. When the first teen raised the bat again, the man grabbed it and wrested it from him. Both suspects took off running south on Dolores, and the man took the bat to Mission Station where he reported the incident.

Please Don't Push Your Host

On Sunday, Feb. 9, at 5:30 p.m., a 43-year-old woman who occasionally stayed at a 48-year-old woman's Church Street apartment pushed the older woman, who had asked her to leave. The younger woman was charged with battery, a misdemeanor, and was booked at county jail.

She was held overnight, then released the following day after a promise to appear in court. The judge also granted a restraining order against the suspect, barring any contact with the targeted woman.

To Catch a Thief and Let Him Go

A 19-year-old man was arrested for auto burglary, possessing burglary tools, and giving false information to a police officer on Sunday, Feb. 27, at 10:52 p.m. in the area of San Jose Avenue and 23rd Street. However, all charges were dismissed "in the interest of justice," and the suspect was released. No further details were available at press time.

Dispo's

Brent Gerard, 26, who was charged with a November 1999 burglary on the 1200 block of Castro Street, along with two additional felonies, pled guilty to possession of stolen property on Feb. 9, and was sentenced to 84 days in county prison and three years' probation.

Alan Morales, 26, who was charged with four felonies and two misdemeanors relating to a January 2000 auto burglary at 24th and Guerrero streets, pled guilty to one stolen auto charge, a felony, and was sentenced to 47 days in county jail and three years' probation.

Robert O'Neal, 63, who was charged with a January 1997 murder on the 1000 block of Church Street, remained in custody pending his March 24 trial in Superior Court 22.

South of Cesar Chavez

Here's a hopeful bit of news for all of you Noe Valley residents who reside within the boundaries of the Ingleside Police District (south of Cesar Chavez Street). Officer Lorraine Lombardo and I recently had the pleasure of comparing our police notes with your beat officer, Bill Boniface. So, if you see us pedaling our bicycles in your neighborhood, we're probably off to a meeting with Bill at Star Bakery!

I'll let you know how the talks go. Until next time, be safe and let's continue to watch out for one another.

I'll see you on patrol.

San Francisco Police Officer Lois Perillo covers her Noe Valley beat-- from Valencia to Grand View and 21st to Cesar Chavez -- on foot and on bicycle. If you would like to discuss a crime or safety problem, call her at 558-5404, the community policing line at Mission Station.