Central District Newsletter-June 18, 2009

Central District Newsletter

Captain James I. Dudley
June 18, 2009

“Arm yourself….with knowledge!”

Captain’s Comments

Police Commission Meeting in the Central District-Postponed Due to construction conflicts, the Police Commission in the Central District has been postponed for a future date. The Commission will hold their regular meeting June 24th at City Hall.

This past weekend at the North Beach Festival, several thousands of people landed in North Beach for the festivities. The weather was good and the local economy seemed to be stimulated. Central Station was abuzz both days with a steady stream of prisoners and detainees as well. Dozens were cited and several booked for various indiscretions, mostly alcohol based. Dozens of individuals outside of approved drinking areas were asked to return to those venues or to discard the open containers. Many individuals remained in the party spirit and readily complied with our requests, several others were not so compliant.
It can be sometimes frustrating for officers assigned to the festivals. Dealing with individuals who already have a few libations on board are less cooperative than sober individuals. There are varying degrees of cooperation. I asked one young woman to hand me the bottle of wine that she was drinking from. She denied having any such bottle that she still held in one hand, while talking on a cell phone with the other hand. I persisted and attempted to seize the bottle which she then plunged into her purse. The young lady attempted to run into the crowd and began screaming when I took her by the arm. After the exchange, I took the uncooperative woman into custody and attempted to walk her across the street to the rear entry of Central Station. At that point, the exchange grew even more surreal when we were soon surrounded by 20 or so naked individuals on bicycles in the street at Green and Columbus. One half hour later I sat in the station writing the report for a minor in possession of alcohol. I am sure there were several similar interactions between officers and individuals this weekend. In all, I estimate that officers wrote over a dozen tickets and asked several other dozens to dispose of open alcoholic beverages in public. Most people did as requested.
This week I will send out letters to a half dozen business who were not helpful by overcrowding their venues, hosting “mini-beer gardens”, blasting music into the street and in one case, a liquor store sold red plastic cups with each purchase. Many other businesses were helpful and cooperative, helping us keep order. I will be thanking them as well.
Related activity: 6/13/09 at 7:30 PM, Columbus and Greenwich. A 30 year old woman told officers that she had been drinking during the day and was leaving a bar when 2 men approached and put their arms around her. At the same time, a white van pulled up and two other men attempted to pull her into the sliding door cargo area. A passerby broke up the assault and said he was her boyfriend to stop the men. The men fled in the white van. The woman was unharmed.

6/13/09 at 5:45 PM on the 600 block of Green Street. A woman inside a house party said she was approached by an unknown male. The 28 year old white male from Redwood City became angry at being rebuffed and attempted to choke and knock down the woman. A group of men at the party heard the commotion and subdued the suspect who fled into a neighboring parking lot when police arrived and took him into custody. Both the male and female were treated for various injuries at the scene.

6/13/09 2 PM and 4 PM, two minors in possession of alcohol were cited near Union and Cadell and Green and Columbus.
6/13/09 6 PM 500 block of Green Street Bar Fight - Officers responded inside a bar and stopped a fight between patrons and management. Two men from SF and Brisbane were booked for drunk in public.