SFist: SFist Blotter: Valencia Street Stabbing Edition

Rah

Wed, 23 Jul 2008 10:13:21 -0800

"As a long time resident of New Orleans, I find Brock's blotter posts a little hysterical. Yes there is violent crime in SF and probably more than when the economy was booming. No, San Francisco is by no means a dangerous place to live. And how many arrests are made within the first 24 hours of a violent crime anyhow? I'd like to see some stats on closing cases before we entertain the idea of police officers being lazy and/or incompetent." San Francisco can be a dangerous place to live, just as New Orleans can be a dangerous place to live. Neither are exclusively safe or dangerous. As for the competence of the SFPD, it only takes some observation (as in reading the news) for a little while to notice they don't get much shit done...and it's not entirely their fault. we have crazy city policies and a crazy DA which don't make things easier. Then you have the statistics to prove it. I'm not going to find the exact numbers right now, but know this: San Francisco has the lowest homicide clearance rate of any big city in the US, coming in at around just 30% (this was in 2006 or 2007, but I really doubt it's changed much if at all since then).

Xenu

Tue, 22 Jul 2008 19:42:47 -0800

Time to buy a gun. Remember: if someone threatens your life, you have the right to kill them.

halli

Tue, 22 Jul 2008 17:41:59 -0800

1. Yikes! This is a block from the Mission police station at Valencia and 17th, so that's really disturbing. 2. To be fair to Kamala Harris and the judges, I think one of the reasons crimes don't get prosecuted in SF is that it's very difficult to get a jury to convict. In this case, I'm sure a pro bono lawyer would work hard on the ID (dark, confusion, blood loss!). 3. As for the blotter, I'm surprised this only comes up as a purse snatching. Surely it's assault with a deadly weapon, at least, if not attempted manslaughter? 4. The woman is very lucky, and I wish her a complete physical and psychological recovery.

Brock Keeling

Tue, 22 Jul 2008 17:16:12 -0800

you lead a very richly-textured life. bravo.

trick94109

Tue, 22 Jul 2008 17:13:42 -0800

As a long time resident of New Orleans, I find Brock's blotter posts a little hysterical. Yes there is violent crime in SF and probably more than when the economy was booming. No, San Francisco is by no means a dangerous place to live. And how many arrests are made within the first 24 hours of a violent crime anyhow? I'd like to see some stats on closing cases before we entertain the idea of police officers being lazy and/or incompetent.

SFPhotos

Tue, 22 Jul 2008 15:35:25 -0800

I once witnessed two transvestites having a bottle fight at 16th and valencia so this is not surprising. If you absolutely have to walk down there at any time of day I would suggest doing it with the accompaniment of some mace, a firearm, a police dog, or all three. Some parts of SF are downright dangerous and this is one of them. I hope the victim has a speedy recovery. -Sfphoto

joshb

Tue, 22 Jul 2008 13:15:31 -0800

Welcome to the Mission. The downtown interests that write the Comical don't report on crimes that hit our streets. "Dog bites man," they say.

sf_bikebike

Tue, 22 Jul 2008 12:52:41 -0800

and we wonder why..... http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/07/21/BA5C11SK2S.DTL&tsp=1

sf_bikebike

Tue, 22 Jul 2008 12:46:56 -0800

I all ways had the theory that riding a bike is somewhat safer and less likely that you will be victimized. But then you have to worry about getting hit by drunk divers and speedy methed out cab drivers. I guess those are just the chances we have to take living in a big city. So scary.

anon8mizer

Tue, 22 Jul 2008 12:35:26 -0800

These probably are repeat offenders. And if Karmala Harris knew what she was doing they probably were in jail then, instead of on the streets stabbing people. Vote her out of the office. Get somebody tough in there.

what

Tue, 22 Jul 2008 11:42:05 -0800

"I thought this happened between 19th and 20th/Valencia. Shit was all roped off and someone said someone got stabbed. Might of been a different thing." There was the double stabbing+shooting there, the day before a fatal revenge shooting at the same place, but it's unrelated to this stabbing. On another note, I always feel weird catching a really short cab ride (like from 14th to 20th), but screw it. If it's late and you have to go through that area, take the friggin' cab.

digitalhoodie

Tue, 22 Jul 2008 11:26:29 -0800

What the hell is with the stabbing? Being mugged is horrible in the first place, but at least I can see what the motivation is for a desperate person. Brock, any info about if she put up any sort of fight or just let her belongings go? Best wishes to the victim for a speedy recovery and some sort of closure on this.

sfsooz

Tue, 22 Jul 2008 11:22:28 -0800

Oh my gosh, that's terrible! I am so glad the lady is OK, and that another citizen and the paramedics/doctors could get her help quickly. Simply horrifying. I know Salty's comment above was, well, salty, but if this was within sight of the Valencia Gardens complex, please contact them and ask if the cameras caught anything. VG isn't a "housing project" run by the city; it is privately run and has onsite staff. And I know for 100% fact that the security cameras at North Beach Place (another complex like Valencia Gardens and run by the same company) have been used to catch criminals before. My very best to the woman who was hurt. Could have been any of us!

derekjustice

Tue, 22 Jul 2008 11:10:48 -0800

I thought this happened between 19th and 20th/Valencia. Shit was all roped off and someone said someone got stabbed. Might of been a different thing.

SFconguero

Tue, 22 Jul 2008 11:09:38 -0800

First of all, I am very sorry this incident happened to you. I do hope you recover well and fast. Prevention... Even though it's your neighborhood, walk with someone or carry some type of mace/weapon if you're going to be walking the streets that early in the morning. I witnessed a shooting in front of the Gardens several months ago...and these were kids, in middle school. Nothing's changed. Always be aware of your surroundings. Much love to you...

aj

Tue, 22 Jul 2008 11:09:34 -0800

That's terrible. I think there are crime cameras nearby. Wonder if they will actually be used for once?

lanersg

Tue, 22 Jul 2008 11:04:20 -0800

Thank you so much for posting this. I've just forwarded it to all my friends who live or hang out in this area as a warning to be careful out there (really to be careful anywhere at this point). I hope your friend makes a speedy recovery.

palgus

Tue, 22 Jul 2008 10:55:20 -0800

Oh, and in my experience, the police were extrmely helpful and interested in making an arrest. I don't know if they ever did, I never saw his face so was of no help to them. It's not the police who let the criminals go, the judges do that.

palgus

Tue, 22 Jul 2008 10:50:35 -0800

Having been mugged and gotten my throat slashed 2 years ago (in broad daylight on a busy "safe" street), I'd say that these things aren't usually in blotters (though you might check the often inconsistently updated crime reports on the individual police station websites, or go into a station and asked to be added to the local email crime newsletter), that crime hasn't necessarily gotten any worse just lately, and that if I'd had any weapon and tried to use it, I'd quite possibly be dead.

Mudpuddles

Tue, 22 Jul 2008 10:50:12 -0800

@suckafree: This crime was filed under purse snatching, but it was clearly more violent than that. SFPD is woefully lazy and stupid, and will no doubt let these violent neck-stabbers go, like they do every criminal.

bluecanary

Tue, 22 Jul 2008 10:43:51 -0800

I have no problem with concealed weapons, but in this case, it doesn't appear one would have helped. Sounds like everything happened far too quickly for her to have reached into her purse (or shoulder holster, if you're super cool) for a gun.

hollyMmm

Tue, 22 Jul 2008 10:39:37 -0800

This is really sad. The Mission streets are becoming more and more unsafe, increasing it seems every day/night. I am very happy to know this woman is safe. Wishing her all the best with your recovery. And to the woman who helped her, you are amazing.

Plug1

Tue, 22 Jul 2008 10:37:49 -0800

@ Deborah: and also the North Slope of Potrero Hill. The Potrero View has a nice blotter of incidents that never get picked up by The Presstitutes @ The Gate: http://www.potreroview.net/feat10033.html (looks liek July has not been updated.)

mattymatt

Tue, 22 Jul 2008 10:37:30 -0800

Whew, that's awful. Glad to hear that the lady is on the mend. I'd be interested to hear whether she thinks that carrying a weapon (a gun, or mace, or whatever) might've been helpful in that situation, or would have made things worse.

Deborah

Tue, 22 Jul 2008 10:34:48 -0800

Sounds a lot like what's been going on in Glen Park.

salty

Tue, 22 Jul 2008 10:29:55 -0800

But golly, I thought Valencia Gardens was safe now.

Plug1

Tue, 22 Jul 2008 10:24:00 -0800

economy tanks = less recreational income to spend on recreational drugs = drug dealers still need to eat/pay Metro PCS bills = petty crime spikes in the streets where the recreational drugs were formerly bought.

suckafree

Tue, 22 Jul 2008 10:23:46 -0800

More fodder for the NRA types. I can't say I'd disagree either. Some folks just don't deserve to live, and here are two fine examples. Glad to hear she survived the attack. I doubt they would have cared if she didn't. Did the Police get a chance to take her statement yet to file a report?

OrangeDrink

Tue, 22 Jul 2008 10:19:00 -0800

Holy shit! I wish you the speediest of recoveries.

sf_bikebike

Tue, 22 Jul 2008 10:15:04 -0800

Is it just me or is crime just getting worse in San Francisco? Or is this normal?

cwiggum

Tue, 22 Jul 2008 10:03:10 -0800

Thank you for sharing this. It's absolutely horrifying and I'm so glad the person this happened to is ok. From the sound of it, she's very lucky. I live just two blocks from where this happened and I'm glad to have this kind of reporting so as to better know what's going on in my neighborhood. Brock, thanks for keeping us in the loop. And, to the woman to whom this happened, I'm so glad you are ok.