Police Blotter

Aggravated Assault, with Weapon, Malicious Mischief, Vandalism to Property: Jan. 4, 3:40 a.m., 5100 Block of Geary Boulevard
Three suspects entered a convenience store and brought an alcoholic drink and a bag of popcorn to the front counter. The clerk recognized two of the suspects from the previous week when they attempted to purchase alcohol without identification.

The group began to get angry at him because they believed the clerk had been watching them closely to make sure they weren't stealing. One of the suspects then said, "F-- you, give me my money back." The clerk gave him his money back as the suspect threw popcorn in his face.

Another suspect hit the clerk in the head with a plastic grocery hand-basket as the others began to knock items off the shelves and throw them around the store. At this point the clerk pressed his panic alarm button.

The three suspects then began punching and kicking the 35-year-old clerk, ramming a steel newspaper shelf into his body.

The suspects left the store only to come back with a construction sign. They hit the clerk with it, while yelling a racial epithet, before breaking the store's glass doors. One of the suspects then tried to stab the clerk with a broken glass bottle.

The clerk was able to recover a baton from underneath the cash register and chased the suspects. At this point, police responded to the panic button the clerk pressed and arrived at the scene.

The police detained all three suspects at the corner of 15th Avenue and Geary Boulevard and booked them at Richmond Station. An ambulance was called for the clerk, who was treated for numerous cuts to his arms.

Defrauding Gas Station/Taxi Driver: Jan. 8, 7:50 a.m., Intersection of Geary Boulevard and Fourth Avenue
A cab driver picked up a woman at the corner of Fourth Avenue and Geary Boulevard. The driver took the woman to her destination and returned her to where he picked her up. The woman told the driver to use her credit card to pay her fare, with a good tip, and to give her $15 cash back. The driver agreed and gave her the $15.

After returning the woman to Fourth and Geary, the cab driver asked for a credit card, which the woman refused to hand over. Remembering a similar scam that had happened to fellow drivers, the driver locked the doors to prevent the woman from leaving while he called police.

In response, the suspect reached over the driver's shoulders and put the vehicle into drive. The driver put the vehicle in park, took the keys out of the ignition and threw them out the window - elbowing the suspect off of his shoulders in the process.

Police promptly arrived and detained both the driver and the suspect. Two other cab drivers arrived on the scene and identified the woman as the same one who had pulled the scam on them. All three drivers insisted on pressing charges against the suspect, who was released after being given a court appearance time and date.

Indecent Exposure: Jan. 9, 5 p.m., 800 Block of 48th Avenue
A woman was walking to her apartment when she noticed a man wearing a hooded sweatshirt and large black-framed glasses with blue-mirrored lenses standing on the sidewalk across from her residence. She saw the suspect follow her as she entered the front gate of her apartment.

The woman started to check her mail when she heard heavy breathing. Turning around, she saw the suspect standing in front of her gate masturbating.

The woman ran into her apartment and called her husband, who called the police. No suspect was found, but the police noted this incident was similar to other ones that occurred in the Richmond last year.

Robbery with Gun, Street or Public Place, Aggravated Assault: Jan. 16, 2:20 a.m., 2400 Block of Clement Street
Five men were standing outside talking when they were approached by two suspects.

One of the two men took out a black handgun and struck one of the men above his right eye with the butt of the gun. The suspect pointed the gun at the man's head and said, "Give me all of your wallets!" in Cantonese. Fearing for their lives, all the victims complied.

The suspects, both of whom wore gray hooded jackets, fled northbound on 24th Avenue.

Police were notified and searched the area unsuccessfully for the suspects. The struck victim refused medical treatment.

Firearm, Discharging at Unoccupied Building, Vehicle: Dec. 31, 8:08 a.m., 1400 Block of Baker Street
A man was standing on the street when he saw a gray Chrysler, possibly a four-door Concourse, pull up alongside a parked van. The witness saw the car idle alongside the van before shooting four times into the unoccupied vehicle and driving away. The shots shattered the van's windows and hit a neighboring car.

Police recovered shell casings as potential evidence.