Underwhelming Police Response After Alleged Carjacking and Abduction on 20th and San Carlos
Gina writes:
At 4:30 a.m. I was awoken to the sound of a woman screaming bloody murder. I looked out the window of my San Carlos Street apartment and saw tail lights outside of Hog & Rocks. She was screaming for help and demanding that the attacker get out of her car. Within seconds neighbors began running outside, as did I. In under a minute this woman and her car were gone. All we could do was call for the cops and try to piece together what had happened.
This is only guessing- but the half dozen of us that heard and saw small bits from our windows think she was car jacked on 20th and San Carlos, and tried to fight the attacker off. He won after one block.
None of us could identify the car, only that it was a car not a truck or SUV. We couldn't help the police much and they didn't have the best representation with only one officer showing up. We tried to tell him as quickly and clearly as we could what we saw. The officer drove off looking for a car that he couldn't identify that had any sign of trouble. No officers came to follow-up with us after that. We're left to hope that woman is okay.
If anyone has any additional information, you can contact the SFPD Anonymous Tip Line at (415) 575-4444 or the text tip line, TIP411, referencing SFPD in the message.
Update: Gina's initial email was from 5:30 this morning. Here's her update from 9:30.
I just spoke with the Mission Police and can update you with this: They had a partial description on the car, and partial license plate given by my neighbor. They sent all units looking for the car and turned up nothing. I asked if they'd had any women come forward on being attacked last night that would fit with the San Carlos Street event- they had not. You see, I was hoping the woman got free and contacted the police- but no luck on that yet.
The officer did not take any of our names before rushing off looking for the woman. Nor did the return in the 20 minutes after that we all stood outside theorizing and talking. I think it was the right thing to do in the moment to speed off looking for her once he got the little info we had.
The officer with whom I spoke on the phone just now was helpful and understanding- it did feel like they'd done the best they could. She questioned if I thought perhaps it could have been a domestic dispute, which would explain why no one ever heard anything again. I absolutely - in my bones- know this was not a woman screaming at an attacker she knew. My four house mates and I thought that it was blood curdling. Also, we heard a very loud pop much like a fender bender when it all began- another strange detail.
Comments
Those were some bone-chilling screams. She just screamed "There's someone in my car. I'm being attacked!" It sounds like the car hit something as well. I walked around a bit looking for paint transfer or damage to other cars but couldn't find anything. Another neighbor found a pair of shoes that may or may not have been the victims.
I really hope she is ok.
Police dropped by this afternoon to talk further. They had gotten partial description of the car from neighbors closer to Hog & Rocks. Late model beige car, 4 doors. I found a license plate on the street that I offered them so they could run the plate. Plate belongs to grey 4 door VW on Lexington. They will question VW owner to follow-up on any lead.
Thanks for posting this info. My husband and I woke up to the terrifying screams and immediately called 911. By the time we looked outside, we saw no one except other neighbors and eventually the 2 patrol cars. Hoping the woman is alright. We've been haunted by this all day.
Hi San Carlos St. Resident,
At my house we feel the same. Haunted is really the way to put it. A month or so ago there was a Neighborhood Watch meeting. Did you take part? Do you know who organized? I missed it that evening. Feeling we all need to meet again. Any info you may be able to share would be appreciated.
Gina
Doesn't sound like such an underwhelming response after all.
The next Neighborhood Watch meeting is Monday night at 7pm
I agree the police response was incredibly underwhelming. I called to follow up at 5am and was told by 911 that there was no record of a call made for anything on San Carlos. I was put through to Mission Police Station where again they knew nothing. I got a call back at 6am saying that after ten minutes of driving around the cops moved on to other business.
So far myself and other residents have done more to help that the cops have. Local restaurants Hog and Rocks, Rodgers and Raddish are all checking surveillance cameras. This is all resident driven research, no cops have approached any of those establishments.
It's nice of you to be doing something, but it's irresponsible to say the cops aren't on it when you don't actually know that.
Read the updates, they obviously are.
Whether or not we get enough help from SFPD is such a divisive issue time and time again. It's difficult to measure the level to which they help. But our feelings, whatever they may be, are valid. I feel thankful that in someone's time of need our neighbors are pulling together to do whatever we're able.
the cops AREN'T on it. They admitted to me that they didn't feel there was a victim and that they spent 10 mins looking around and found nothing. I am a resident how spent my entire Sunday reviewing tapes from local establishments. They SHOULD have taking this seriously.
I have researched cameras from Rodgers and found the car. small red car. it rounds in from 20th at hits the first lampost. the lights keep turning off and on. it drives in bursts down the street.
Police at Mission Station just treated me like a pest when I called.
http://missionlocal.org/2012/08/campos-kicks-off-re-election-campaign/co...
this guy.
He needs a swift kick in the ass and Mission Locals need to wield the boot. I'm opting for steelcaps.
This Supervisor, whose district is the Mission, is responsible for the street lights, speed bumps, cameras and other tools that can help make this district safer.
He isn't doing a thing, so far.
Please help me remind him how important we are.
Email AND call.
Let him know that this area needs MORE STREET LIGHTING (especially on Capp, San Carlos and Lexington Streets, from 24-16th.
Tell him we need SPEED HUMPS along San Carlos and Lexington (from 21-17th)
Tell him that there need to be consistant foor petrols from police, day and night.
Tell him that when concerned citizens call for help they want to be taken seriously and followed up with. Or there will be a vigilante state alongside this one of gang warfare.
City Hall
1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place, Room 244
San Francisco, Ca 94102-4689
(415) 554-5144 - Voice
(415) 554-6255 - Fax
David.Campos@sfgov.org
Aides: Sheila Chung Hagen, Hillary Ronen
email contact form: http://www.sfbos.org/index.aspx?page=2129
Almost exactly one year ago someone was stabbed at Guerrero and Duncan and in trying to followup on Campos replied "You may want to contact 311 so that they can connect you with the right station."
Hey, thanks a *lot*!
Remember the woman raped at Fair Oaks & 24th, the guy had done the same to two other women in the months previous and Campos had sat around doing nothing until this 3rd one which took place in Noe Valley.
Apparently he's so overworked he felt need of (and got, your tax dollars at work) a third assistant.
I don't remember that statement, and I doubt its truth, but clearly Campos is not the supervisor for none of Guerrero and Duncan, Fair Oaks and & 24th, or Noe Valley.
http://sfgov2.org/ftp/uploadedfiles/elections/PrecinctServices/maps/2012...
Well, 16th and Mission is in Jane Kim's district.
Also, your house is at the extreme end of Campos district, and about a block from both Kim's and Weiners. These problems go to all three supervisors.
Don't count on Campos to do anything about crime or so-called "quality of life" issues. It is in his and his cronies' best interests to maintain the status quo of rampant crime in the Mission. Until people wake up and stop voting for corrupt pieces of garbage like him, nothing will change.
You don't know what you're talking about.
Really? Enlighten me please.
You sound like a hater whose eyeballs have been in the dark so long that light would be painful to you.
So tiny piece of light, No one is running against Campos.
The man is a stooge and is doing a disservice to his constituents. I just call it as I see it, friend. I would like to hear your take on why no one is running against him?
Naw. He's been a great Supe, both for his constituents (including me) and the city as a whole. His office has been nothing but responsive and respectful whenever I have contact them.
He's definitely got my vote again this time.
How do his cronies benefit? I'm genuinely curious. Do they sell stuff that scared residents buy? Do they make money if sales tax revenue is depressed because of crime? Do they get government money, voted on by all the Supes, if the "rampant crime" stays the same? Can you please remove your tinfoil hat and explain yourself?
You really don't know how nonprofits work in this city do you? The City spends nearly half a BILLION taxpayer dollars on nonprofits every year. Do you have any idea of kind of salaries some of these nonprofit "directors" command? And who do you think is funding Campos' reelection campaign exactly? And who do you think makes sure the flow of taxpayer money continues to fund these nonprofits? Why do you think Campos' number one priority is to stop the "gentrification" of the Mission?
You don't know what you're talking about.
Campos's biggest donor is a Mission District condo developer that refuses to build affordable housing, so there's that.
Nice, great argument there. Then tell me, what exactly has he done that is so great? What has he done to improve the neighborhood? So far, we've heard that his staffers are responsive and have a nice phone or email manner. What else? What has he done to improve conditions down on the street?
Not an argument, just a statement of fact. I'm not campaigning for Campos, I don't much care whether you like him or not, I was just pointing out that the other guy was talking out his ass.
Well all nonprofit executive salaries are available via 990s, so if you have any names of these nonprofits that are funding Campos' releection I'd love to check it out.
And even if what you were saying was true- it would be at most what 12, 20 people? Your argument is that Campos and 20 people are working to make sure crime happens in the Mission so they can profit?
Because you know that the nonprofits that the City gives taxpayer money to are not limited to the mission, some deal with arts, and some try to improve business conditions for small businesses and the like. Nonprofit is just a tax code designation.
I'm willing to believe you, but I guess I need something that sticks to the spoon a bit more.
I saw the SFPD impounding a grey, 4-door VW on Valencia St by 15th this evening. It had front end damage and was missing the front license plate.
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