Results tagged “police”

"Unmarked Police Car Picks Up An Escort On Sutter Street" by Troy Holden.

The Oakland Police Department revealed yesterday that "Officer Murray Hoyle committed suicide in an unincorporated area of Brentwood on Saturday." Hoyle, it seems, was with the OPD for more than 28 years. According to CBS 5/BCN, Hoyle "transferred to the traffic division, where he enjoyed enforcing traffic laws and riding a police motorcycle. He later transferred back to patrol and was well-known for working in the Montclair District." He is survived by his wife and three children, ages 22, 15, and 11. No word as to why, exactly, he took his own life. Sad. In related troubled East Bay police officer news, did anyone happen to catch last night's Intervention? It was about "Gloria," an alcoholic Concord police officer resident. Fortunately, she kicked the booze and no longer slaps her daughter or spends her rent money on booze. Congratulations, Gloria!

We made it a personal mission to check out the sitch in Dolores Park this past Friday afternoon, following on reports of a police crackdown on "illegal" drinking in the park, and we returned yesterday, wine safely contained in a hard plastic water bottle, to continue our investigation. Here's what we found: police presence on Friday, which was the best weather day of the weekend, was not visible in the several hours we were there. A police van and truck were both stationed, mid-park most of the day on Sunday (and presumably Saturday -- see photo), and much of their attention was focused on the more densely crowded shitshow on Hipster Hill / Fixie Flats.

San Francisco's newest beacon of hope, George Gascón, starts his first day as the city's police chief, forcing journalists throughout the Bay Area to learn how to use the accent mark feature. What are Gascón's plans for hotheaded San Francisco? Well, according to , he wants to "implementing CompStat, a statistics-driven computer program that will help determine crime trends and deployment; improving the homicide clearance rate by sending some detectives to work at district stations; improving ties with the community; changing the way officers are disciplined; and requiring that sergeants give their officers daily missions." In related news, Gascón (who is here sans contract) might not be here for long, since the more desirable LA police chief gig has recently become available.

What is this, Los Angeles in the 80s? A man driving in his Prius around 4:30 a.m. on I-80 near the 580 split at around Golden Gate Fields in Albany, was shot at a whole bunch of times by someone in an "older white vehicle." The man was too in shock to identify anything more about the shooter or his vehicle, and while he was only shot in the leg, his car has half a dozen bullet holes in it. He drove, still in shock, all the way home to Richmond, pulled into his driveway and called his brother, who then called Richmond police.

A heroin smuggling ring that involved transporting hundreds of kilos at a time hidden in train engines and compartments has been busted up by federal authorities, as announced yesterday by Acting U.S. Attorney Larry Brown. The heroin operation first came to the attention via two undercover cops in SF's Tenderloin, who ultimately helped trace the drugs back to Michoacan, Mexico, from whence they were smuggled in trains through Southern California, up the Central Valley, and ultimately being sold in SF, Oakland and East Palo Alto. The operation, codenamed "Operation City Commuter," uncovered 200kg of the good stuff and $670,000 in cash, and the whole ring was estimated at over $17M. So remember to take pity when you see those smack kids (who all have dogs, by the way) asking for change: their heroin just got a lot more expensive.

Did you know that in the past five months officers have busted 20 major marijuana grow operations in the Sunset and Ingleside districts of San Francisco? Yes, and a man was arrested yesterday in the 2200 block of 20th Avenue with 246 mature plants growing in his home and charged with cultivating, possession with intent to sell, and stealing electricity. Cops say the skunky smell emanating from the house is usually what gives it away. No shit! It looks like the CAMP task force is still hard at work, and that this is more the work of local officials than the DEA, since our current Attorney General isn't too big on federal pot busts anymore. But we don't actually understand the politics of the marijuana policy anymore... We suppose this just wasn't a fully sanctioned medical marijuana grow operation? They're just hating on the Nancy Botwins around town?

The National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE) is helping BART conduct some much-needed information gathering, and they need your help. This survey wants to know, exactly, what your relationship is with BART police. Are BART police courteous? Are their priorities in order? Has their presence increased or decreased to your liking? Or, more to the point, do you have any confidence in your BART police enforcement? Let them know. It should only take 5 to 10 minutes. If you recall, BART police officers royally screwed up on New Year's Day.

First, the good news: Mayor Gavin Newsom picked a new police chief, one that will follow Heather Fong, who announced her retirement last December.

After ruling today that disgraced BART police Officer Johannes Mehserle will, in fact, stand trial for the New Year's Day killing of Oscar Grant, Superior Court Judge C. Don Clay said the following.

Isaac Mckay Randozzi and Dave Schubert, walked past the dollar store on the corner of Mission and 17th, when...

Get your "We Are All Oscar Grant" t-shirt cleaned. Tim Redmond over at SFBG has word that BART is holding a public meeting. Why? Because "they want to hear concerns about civilian oversight of the BART police." After the New Year's Day killing of Oscar Grant at the Fruitvale station by a transit officer, BART has come under fire for, well, indiscriminate fire, so this is a decent effort to try smoothing things over via a public forum. Some want BART cops to work sans firearms. Others want to fling red paint in the face of BART general managers. Tom Ammiano wants the transit agency to create a San Francisco-ish oversight agency. But what say you? Let them know Saturday, May 2 at 1 p.m. at the John P. Bort Metro Center Auditorium (101 - 8th Street, Oakland).

Eye On Blogs has word (via AP) that there will be a candle light vigil tonight for murderer, (suspected) child rapist, and waste of space Lovelle Mixon.

New information is coming out about Lovelle Mixon, the man accused of shooting four Oakland police officers during a routine traffic stop Saturday afternoon. The Oakland parolee, according to SF Chronicle, "was a wanted man and deliberately skipped out on a meeting as part of a feud he was having with his parole agent."

A routine traffic stop in East Oakland on Saturday afternoon resulted in the violent shooting deaths of four police officers. According to reports, "a 26-year-old gunman shot two motorcycle officers after being pulled over at 1:15 p.m. Saturday, killing one and wounding the other." The gunman then quickly escaped the scene, hiding at a nearby apartment. After the police hunted down the assailant and broke into the apartment, "he shot two more officers with an assault rifle, killing them both, before he was shot dead by the police."

The trust fund kids who help run Really Really Free Market were told to beat it by park rangers this weekend after setting up shop in India Basin park. On Saturday, "officers cited the lack of a permit in their action and made vague, unsubstantiated claims that the RRFM did not clean up materials at previous events." The RRFM was cited for “vending merchandise” and “camping." Starting out in Dolores Park and spreading throughout the country, RRFM, for those not in the know, is a free exchange of items, food, skills, and talents. Giving for the sake of giving, if you will.

Former Bart officer Johannes Mehserle was back in court today in order to ask a judge for bail. If you recall, the 27-year-old disgraced cop pleaded not guilty to the murder of Oscar Grant. He is currently residing in the clink. Oscar Grant, as you all know by now, was shot and killed at the Fruitvale Station platform on New Year's Day as he was cuffed and pinned to the ground. Then, people rightfully freaked the fuck out, white college students feverishly fetishized the plight of black people, somebody erroneously claimed that "we are all Oscar Grant," and Cindy Sheehan presumably shed crocodile tears about horror of it all. But the good news about all of this, if any, is that Bart police have claimed that they will sharpen their sloppy police force. According to a Chronicle report, Bart botched the Grant investigation. Big time.

According to Bart spokesperson Linton Johnson, Bart officers "have been spit upon and yelled at by an angry public." Even though the transit agency has promised a "vigorous investigation" into the shooting death of Oscar Grant, as well as this week's revelation of police brutality prior to Grant's death, a few allegedly upset Bart activists have shamelessly to officers that have had nothing to do with what went down on New Year's Day. So, you know, do not spit, verbally or physically abuse Bart officers.

In a humiliating week for Bay Area police forces, Oakland Police Chief Wayne Tucker announced his resignation yesterday. His last day will be at the end of February. According to reports, "Tucker said the decision was his own and that he was not asked by Mayor Ron Dellums to step down." Which is to say, the decision was Ron Dellums's and that he did not step down on his via his own accord. Maybe. Cynicism and speculation aside, Tucker claims conflict with the Oakland City Council as the main reason for his resignation.

New cellphone footage of the night of Oscar Grant's murder has surfaced. What does it show? It seems, according to reports, a second BART officer, not Johannes Mehserle, can be seen assaulting a suspect moments before Grant's shooting death. In the footage, the officer, named Tony Pirone, goes over to one of the New Year's Day men who was sitting on the ground and clocks him square in the face. KTVU had this to say after viewing the footage:

San Jose police have surrounded the USA Gas station on McLaughlin Ave. at the Capitol Expressway. According to CBS 5's alarming 'breaking news' box atop their homepage, one armed suspect is at the scene. So, you know, if you're in the area and running on empty, you might want to fill up elsewhere for now.

Two sergeants and nine officers in the Oakland Police Department will be looking for fresh new careers soon. Why? It seems said law enforcement officials lied on sworn affidavits in order to get judges to sign search warrants. Yeah. The warrants were for East Oakland homes suspected of small-time drug dealing, it seems. Police Chief Wayne Tucker freaked out, saying, "We demand professional conduct from all employees ... [t]he foundation of our system requires that law enforcement officials maintain the highest integrity, and once that integrity is compromised, you lose credibility, and you cannot continue to be a peace officer." While this kind of edgy behavior flies on Law & Order, not so much in real life.

When we see five police cars, half a block cordoned off by crime scene tape, and a bicycle laying in the street, we think, "this can't be good."

In an amazing twist, murder charges were officially filed against Johannes Mehserle, 27, who (allegedly) shot and killed Oscar Grant on New Year's Day on the Fruitvale BART station platform. The amazing part is that Mehserle is being charged with murder, not manslaughter. (Even those cops in NYC who shot Sean Bell just hours before his wedding were just charged with manslaughter.) If you recall, Matier & Ross said if "Mehserle is charged with a crime in Grant's shooting, it will be a first."

Johannes Mehserle was arrested in Nevada today in connection with the shooting and killing of Oscar Grant on New Year's Day. According the Chronicle, "Mehserle, 27, was taken into custody in Douglas County, Nevada, said Deputy Steve Velez of the Douglas County Sheriff's Office. The arrest was also confirmed by David Chai, chief of staff to Oakland Mayor Ron Dellums." (Due to death threats, Mehserle stashed himself in Nevada.) It seems an Alameda County judge signed an arrest warrant today, and Mehserle surrendered with no fuss or muss. A surprising update to this case for sure. We will update with more when more details of the arrest are made public on Wednesday.

by Hunter Walker

Several hours of violence erupted Wednesday night as demonstrators at "smashed storefronts and cars, set several cars ablaze and blocked streets in downtown Oakland." The riot started after a protest was held at the Frutivale BART station, voicing anger at the New Year's Day shooting death of Oscar Grant. The "roving mob" went to town, indiscriminately going on a rampage throughout downtown Oakland.

Sadly, Matier & Ross have word that the BART police officer who shot and killed Oscar Grant on New Year's Day is now receiving death threats. It seems the BART officer in question, Johannes Mehserle, is being "kept under wraps and moved from place to place after receiving a number of death threats" according to BART spokesperson Linton Johnson. M&R claim that Mehserle is "devastated" over the incident. Rightfully so. What's more, Mehserle's girlfriend gave birth to his offspring on Friday. So, you know, there's that. Ugh. Anyway, the dynamic duo go on to say that "[i]f Mehserle is charged with a crime in Grant's shooting, it will be a first." Sigh. A sad case all around.