Capt. Denis O'Leary: Police Beat

Municipal Railway in Action

A group of juveniles boarded a Muni LRV at 19th Avenue and Winston Street. One of the girls immediately set upon a passenger and tried to take the passenger's purse. The Muni operator summoned the police and a Muni inspector arrived at the scene first.

The suspect had forced open the LRV's doors and fled on 19th Avenue and Junipero Serra Boulevard. The Muni inspector followed the suspect and used his radio to call in her whereabouts. Taraval Police Station officers Hoke, Marchand, Economus, Cunningham, Schwarz and Turkington quickly responded to the area. Officers Hoke and Marchand cornered the suspect and arrested her. She was identified as being involved in an earlier assault at the Stonestown Galleria, too.

Tear Up Those Bills

A victim in the avenues contacted police to report that he had simply thrown away a convenience check from his credit card firm. He then received a letter from the firm asking him to correct an identification number on the check, made out for a $2,000 advance. The victim also related that another creditor had contacted him about another convenience check for about $630 that bounced.

It seems this poor man's garbage had been picked through and the convenience checks had been sent in by the suspects with the hope of attaining easy money.

I Hope It's Him

Taxi drivers were terrorized recently when a gun-wielding suspect robbed them on numerous occasions in the Western Addition and in the Taraval's OMI neighborhood. The suspect and a woman would flag down cabs on lower Market Street and direct the cabby to one of the two locations where the robberies would then occur.

The same man was suspected of robbing a convenience store on Ocean Avenue and fleeing in a cab. Police Inspector Dan Leydon of the robbery detail showed surveillance photographs to Taraval officer Adamson while Adamson was performing a police detail at the Hall of Justice.

Adamson recognized the man in the photograph as a Taraval District resident. Word quickly spread throughout the Hall of Justice and a deputy chief congratulated Adamson for his fine work. Adamson was heard muttering to himself "I hope it's him."

Victims soon identified the suspects from a photo line-up and later that evening Tactical Squad members located the suspect on Market Street and arrested him without incident.

Use the Mailbox

Another Taraval District resident called to report that her checking account statement showed an inaccuracy. She had left her paid bills in her mailbox, with the edges of the envelopes protruding, for collection by her mail carrier.

A Richmond District resident later called her to say he found two opened pieces of mail with her return address on them in his mailbox. One of the opened envelopes contained a payment for her phone bill. Later, the victim found out that the check to Pacific Bell had been altered and used to purchase goods at a Safeway store.

Paying Attention to Details

An Inner Sunset resident returned home to find her front window broken and numerous items of value missing. As officer John Paige investigated the crime, the resident's parents returned and further inspected the home. The father reported that his saxophone and its unique case were missing.

Four hours later, Paige was summoned to a trespassing call two blocks from the burglary. A drunken man and his girlfriend refused to leave the man's mother's doorstep. Paige ordered the pair to pick up their belongings and leave. As they did, Paige noticed the man was in possession of a saxophone case and other items taken in the burglary.

The victims in the burglary were summoned to the scene and quickly identified all their belongings taken earlier. Inspector Laurel Hall of the night investigations detail authorized the release of all the property to the victims and the culprit was booked at Taraval Station for burglary and possession of stolen property.

What is Art?

As officers Gala and Damonte patrolled Judah Street near the beach one morning, they found a man drawing on a car parked nearby. The man claimed the car belonged to his wife.

The car's owner was located at her home and denied knowing the man. The woman pointed out her other car and officers found graffiti all over that car as well. The man admitted writing on both cars but could not explain himself; he was arrested and booked at Taraval Station.

A Long Night

Officers Brennan and Lopez were sent to the area of De Montfort and Jules avenues on a call of a drunken man drinking beer near St. Emydius School.

The officers found the man stumbling down De Montfort Avenue. While arresting the man because he could not take care of himself, officers searched him and found bank deposit bags and a large amount of money. When questioned about the cash, the man explained that he was a manager of a fast food restaurant on Market Street and that he was on his way to deposit the money in a bank.

Further investigation showed the man had disappeared two nights before after taking the restaurant's proceeds from a safe. The man's odyssey included two nights of drinking in bars in the Ingleside District and Daly City. He even responded to Taraval Station to report that he had been the victim of a robbery attempt. The man estimated that he spent more than $500 on drinking, eating and tipping waitresses. Officers also found crack cocaine in the man's possession.

He was booked at Taraval Station on multiple charges.

Her Spirit Lives On

Taraval Station regrets to announce the death of Selma Curiel, mother of Lt. Daniel Curiel. Her feisty spirit and intelligence lives on in Dan.

Capt. Denis O'Leary is the commanding officer at the Taraval Police Station.