Police Blotter

Arson, Inhabited Dwelling: March 6, 4 p.m., 600 Block of Fifth Avenue
A neighbor called 911 saying smoke was coming from an apartment across the street.

Firefighters arrived and entered the apartment. Once inside, the firefighters discovered all the electric burners on the stove were turned "on." Upon further investigation, they smelled smoke and found a locked bedroom door. The firefighters forced entry and found a small fire of burning paper in the center of the bedroom floor. They also found the suspect in bed with the covers pulled over her head and the window closed.

After leading the suspect outside onto the street, the suspect exclaimed, "I'm going to jail or I'll burn the house down!"

The suspect was taken into custody and transported to the police station where she waived her Miranda rights.

She told the inspector, "I set a fire so they could arrest me. I light (sic) up the paper on the floor. I tried to burn the clothes. I set the fire. I only set the fire to my apartment. I almost passed out. That was the first time I set a fire."

The suspect was taken to SF General Hospital for a mental health detention.

Robbery, Service Station with Gun: March 16, 10:56 p.m., 2500 Block of California Street
A clerk was behind the counter at a gas station when a young male suspect dressed entirely in black entered the store. Another suspect, similar in appearance to the first suspect, then entered the store.

The second suspect stepped behind the counter, pulled out a silver revolver and pointed it at the clerk. He asked for all the store's money.

Fearing for his life, the clerk complied, opening the cash register and turning over approximately $300. The suspect told the clerk to lie on the ground and count to 30.

The two suspects fled northbound on Steiner Street. Police units arriving at the scene searched the area for the suspects to no avail.

Defrauding Providers of Food, Fuel, Services or Accommodations: March 7, 1:30 a.m., 3500 Block of Geary Boulevard
A group of five men and five females walked into a sports bar on Geary Boulevard and were escorted to a back room. All 10 suspects ordered beers and proceeded to drink and listen to music for the next two-and-a-half hours.

At around closing time, the bill was given to the one of the suspects, who got upset.

"We will only pay five dollars for the beers, not eight dollars," he said.

The suspect made a phone call and then said something unknown to the other nine people in his group. The 10 suspects then began to trash the room, destroying light fixtures, a music machine and a television before leaving the bar.

The suspects were not found. Police believe it may be gang related.

Bank Robbery, with Other Weapon: March 2, 1:37 p.m., 2800 Block of Geary Boulevard
A suspect with a thin build carrying a newspaper entered a bank talking to himself. He walked past the people standing in line and directly up to a teller's counter.

The suspect, who the teller said had "messed-up teeth," handed the teller a note that said, "Give me $8,000! 8,000! Or I'll kill you!"

The teller gave the suspect an undetermined amount of money and handed a note to another teller, who activated the bank's silent alarm.

At this point, the suspect fled the bank.

The bank manager followed the suspect, who got on a 38 Muni bus. The manager indicated to the bus driver that he needed to stay put by putting his hand across his throat.

After the manager re-entered the bank to call 911, the bus driver watched the suspect flee the bus northbound on Collins Street.

Police alerted to the crime detained a suspect at Anza and Cook streets.