SAN FRANCISCO—On Monday, July 6, the San Francisco Police Department announced the arrest of several robbery suspects.
The SFPD reported that over the past month, there were multiple Bay Area homicides that were possibly related to San Francisco gang members. As a result of the gang violence, members of the SFPD Violence Reduction Team (VRT) started surveilling known gang areas believed to be associated with these homicides to prevent any further violence.
Through further investigation, VRT officers discovered a certain vehicle had driven through the Sunnydale housing development occupied by several suspects who were then observed exiting this vehicle armed with several firearms, including several assault-style rifles. Based on their observations, VRT members believed that these suspects were looking to retaliate or harm members of a rival criminal street gang.
Through the course of the investigation, VRT officers located the above suspect vehicle, identified as a Kia Stinger in Richmond, CA, and started to monitor its movements. VRT officers believed the occupants in the Kia Stinger were armed and were utilizing this vehicle to stalk rival gang members.
With this information, VRT officers created a plan to arrest the occupants of the Kia Stinger. While surveilling the vehicle, VRT officers were able to identify known gang members associated with the vehicle.
On June 28, VRT officers who were monitoring the Kia Stinger spotted it drive to Concord, where it was used in a jewelry store robbery.
VRT officers, SFPD Citywide Plainclothes, and SFPD Specialists formulated an arrest plan. Officers discovered the occupants in the Kia Stinger switched vehicles following the Concord robbery and were now travelling in an Infiniti SUV.
Officers staged in Richmond, observed the Infiniti SUV return to the known location. One of the suspects, identified as Cameron Haynes, 23, exited the Infiniti SUV and entered a Toyota SUV. Officers moved in to detain Haynes, who ran away from the officers, but was stopped after a foot pursuit. Officers developed probable cause to arrest Haynes. A later search of the Toyota SUV was conducted, which revealed a handgun, assault rifle, ammunition, and evidence related to the robbery incident, which were seized.
The Infiniti SUV fled from the officers, but with the help of SFPD DFR drone pilots, Officers observed the suspects in the fleeing Infiniti discard several items from the vehicle as it fled. It is suspected that the items were related to the robbery.
The Infiniti stopped in the area of the 100 block of W. Macdonald Avenue in Richmond. Officers conducted a traffic stop on the Infiniti and detained the occupants. Officers developed probable cause to arrest the four male occupants identified as Terry Franklin, 29, Lavar Kent, 19, Teric Howard, 21, and Erik Howard, 18.
Officers searched the Infiniti and located and seized a handgun and other evidence related to the robbery. SFPD investigators obtained search warrants for residences in Richmond, and Oakland associated with one of the arrested suspects.
Officers located and seized suspected heroin in Richmond. Officers located and seized two assault rifles in Oakland.
Due to the active investigations, the arrest charges have not been determined at the time the SFPD revealed.
At the conclusion of the incident, the Concord Police Department responded to Richmond to conduct its investigation. For details about the jewelry store robbery contact the Concord Police Department.
The SFPD is still investigating the case. Anyone with details should call the SFPD at 1-415-575-4444 or Text-A-Tip to TIP411, beginning your message with “SFPD.”
