SFPD Apprehends Burglary Suspect

SAN FRANCISCO—On Monday, January 18, officers with the San Francisco Police Department Park Division apprehended a burglar who used a rock to break a large glass window in a house on the 900 block of Stanyan Street. A witness saw the burglar through the victim’s second story window, SFPD Park Division said. The suspect was on parole and had prior burglary arrests.

The SFPD Park Station reported another burglar was arrested for first-degree burglary charges and breaking into a home through a second-story window on 1500 Fell Street. That suspect was released from custody after three days. The first-degree burglary charges were dismissed and he was instead charged for misdemeanor trespassing.

On January 17, another suspect wanted for burglary was arrested for selling drugs at Market and Church Street. The suspect, who was on parole for selling drugs, was booked for narcotics sales, ammo possession by a felon, possession of burglary tools, and probation violation.

At around noon, January 19, the SFPD Park Station confirmed on Twitter that charges against a “prolific burglar” transpired for at least a dozen burglaries (some pending). He was on probation and had at least five prior burglary arrests since October 8, 2018, the SFPD Park Station indicated. The suspect used pliers, a screwdriver, two small sharp tools, and other items when committing his crimes.

In the comments sections of the posts, Twitter users called for the recall or resignation of San Francisco District Attorney Chesa Boudin for the failure to prosecute criminals involved in violent crime, including burglary, domestic violence, and assault.

Fremont Police Department Spokesperson Geneva Bosques observed a trend of repeat offenders of crimes including burglary, have been released in the Bay Area.

“A lot of people are on bail,” she said. “There have been repeat offenders arrested multiple times. It is happening.”

She also pointed out that California police departments do not have control over the release of suspects, and that district attorneys make the determination.

“We [the police] investigate our case and write our police report. We may book a suspect. We propose charges to the District Attorney, but ultimately the District Attorney determines what charges are filed, and then when they go to court the judge could determine to release them,” said Bosques.

UC Berkeley Criminal Justice Professor Jonathan Simon argued in a San Francisco Chronicle opinion piece that “mass incarceration” was not the solution to reducing crime, and that the history of stricter incarceration shows in recent decades.

During the spring of 2020, the State of California’s policy of $0 bail for lower level non-violent felonies allowed repeat offenders for theft and various crimes to be freed, only to be quickly re-arrested. The 0 bail policy was aimed at reducing jail populations and cutting down on the chances for coronavirus to spread in jails.

The State of California rescinded the statewide-order on June 20, but allowed Individual counties to keep the $0 bail policy “where necessary to protect the health of the community, the courts, and the incarcerated,” according to Justice Marsha Slough, a member of the Judicial Council. Slough was quoted by Associated Press journalist Don Thompson in an article published on June 10, 2019