Tenderloin Crime & Safety: Muni Hair Arson, Rock-Throwing Teens, Cigarette Peril

Tenderloin Crime & Safety: Muni Hair Arson, Rock-Throwing Teens, Cigarette PerilPhoto: Steve Rhodes/Flickr
Carrie Sisto
Published on March 24, 2017

While we don't report on every incident, we do our best to keep you informed of major crimes and safety concerns in the neighborhood. Here's a selection of crimes reported in and around the SFPD's Tenderloin District over the past two weeks—since our last recap. All details are pulled from the SFPD's daily crime recaps, unless otherwise noted.

Arrest Made After Beating

Just after 4pm on March 21st, a 55-year-old man was attacked by a 52-year-old man near the 400 block of Eddy Street (near Leavenworth). The suspect attacked the victim and continued to hit the older man while he was on the ground. The suspect was later arrested.

Backpack Stolen At Knifepoint

A man in his early 20s approached a 33-year-old man at the intersection of Larkin Street and Golden Gate Avenue around 6am on March 21st, hoping to settle an old debt. The younger man grabbed the victim by the arm, produced a knife and demanded his property. The suspect escaped with the victim’s backpack and has not been detained. 

Man Robbed After Refusing to Provide Cigarette

Three men in their late 20s approached a 38-year-old man near the intersection of Taylor Street and Duncan Lane around 1am on March 21st, and asked for a cigarette. When the victim refused, the suspects kicked and punched him and stole his cellphone and money. No arrests have been made. 

Man Lights Muni Rider’s Hair On Fire

Around 10pm on March 20th, a 50-year-old woman sitting on a Muni bus near the intersection on 8th and Market streets had her hair lit on fire with a lighter by a 37-year-old man sitting behind her. There were no injuries after one of the victim’s friends put out the fire, and the suspect was later arrested.

Man Arrested In Fatal Stabbing Attack

As we reported earlier this week, 47-year-old Robert Matthews was found dead from multiple stab wounds near the intersection of Jones Street and Golden Gate Avenue around 8am on March 20th. The suspect was later identified as 37-year-old Federico Freeman, who is being held in San Francisco County Jail with no bail. 

Two Men Attack, Rob Non-Smoker

Two male suspects approached a 27-year-old man around 1am near the intersection of Larkin and Fulton streets on March 20th. One suspect asked the victim for a cigarette. When the victim said he didn’t smoke, the two suspects stole his phone, bag and money. Both suspects fled on foot on Larkin and have not been identified. 

Man Loses Cellphone To Teens Throwing Rocks 

Three teenaged males threw a rock at the car of a 34-year-old man driving near the intersection of Turk and Leavenworth streets around 9:35pm on March 19th. The victim stopped his vehicle and the three suspects stole his cellphone. The man chased the teens but was unable to recover his phone, and the suspects remain at large.

Robber Caught, Gun Still At Large

Around 4am on March 18th, a 32-year-old man was standing at the intersection of Market and 5th  streets when a 50-year-old man in a car pulled up and asked for a light. When the victim approached the driver’s window, the older man pulled a gun, held it to the victim’s head, and demanded money. The victim handed over his cash and the driver pulled away. But the victim then hailed a cab to follow the suspect, and called 911. SFPD stopped the suspect’s vehicle and arrested him, but did not recover the handgun. 

Victim Recovers Cellphone After 4-on-1 Knife Attack

A 45-year-old man was walking down Market Street near 7th Street around 11:30am on March 16th when he noticed a man standing in his path, holding a knife. The victim started to turn to walk the other direction, but was knocked to the ground and attacked by two men. When the victim tried to run away, another two men joined the first two suspects, knocked him back to the ground and stole his wallet and cellphone. The victim was later able to recover his cellphone from the first suspect. No arrests were made.

Shotspotter Activated Near Hyde and Golden Gate

Around 1am on March 16th, police responded to a Shotspotter activation near the intersection of Hyde Street and Golden Gate Avenue. Officers found several spent shells and witnesses said the suspect had fled on foot. There were no injuries and no suspects have been identified.

Duo Attacks, Robs Woman Near 8th and Market Streets

Two women in their early 20s attacked a 22-year-old woman at 10:40pm on March 13th on the 1200 block of Market Street (near 8th Street). The women approached the victim from behind, hit her several times, stole her wallet and cell phone and fled on foot in an unknown direction.

Man Loses Wallet In Market Street Attack

Just before 2pm on March 13th, a 26-year-old man was attacked near the intersection of Market and 7th streets. His wallet and money were stolen by an unknown suspect who fled on foot. The victim was treated for non-life-threatening injuries.

Knife Attack Leaves Man in Critical Condition

As we reported last week, a 51-year-old man suffered life threatening stab wounds when he was attacked with a knife by a 36-year old woman near the intersection of Market and 7th streets around 11:35am on March 13th. The woman was arrested nearby that same day, but no further information has been released about the victim’s condition. 

Robbery with a Gun-Like Object

Around 2am on March 12th, a 32-year-old man unlocking his door on the 800 block of O’Farrell Street (near Polk Street) when a woman approached him from behind, stuck a hard object into his back and demanded money. Fearing the woman had a handgun, the victim surrendered his money. The suspect fled on foot and has not been identified.

Arrest Made in September 2016 Homicide

Police from the Tenderloin Station on March 11th located and arrested two men suspected of fatally shooting 44-year-old San Francisco resident Shunsie Ellis around 1am on September 29th, 2016, on the 400 block of Ellis Street (near Jones Street).

The suspects, 41-year-old Darrick Devereaux and 22-year-old Linda Jimenez, are both Stockton residents but were arrested near the intersection of O’Farrell and Jones streets. Police also conducted searches at several properties in Stockton and recovered three semiautomatic guns and one assault rifle, along with nearly a quarter-pound of suspected narcotics. Both suspects were booked in the San Francisco County Jail, Devereaux of murder, three counts of attempted murder and multiple narcotics-related charges, and Jimenez for accessory to crime and multiple narcotics-related charges. Although arrests have been made, police still encourage anyone with further information about this incident to contact them.

You can learn more about the Tenderloin Station’s work by participating in Captain Teresa Ewin’s community meeting. The next one is scheduled for Tuesday, March 28th, at 6pm.