Potrero Hill, San Francisco

Officers Gala, Keeve and Obot were patrolling Potrero Hill when they noticed that a man was walking in the traffic lane, in danger of being hit by a car. Traffic had been passing around the man, but as it was getting dark, and on coming traffic would not be able to see him in the road. The officers stopped to tell the man to move to the sidewalk, but the man responded with a stream of profanity and continued to walk in the traffic lane. Several requests and then commands to move to the sidewalk were met with more profanity, the officers stopped and approached the man. Officer Gala stood in front of the man and told him to stop, but the man pushed Officer Gala’s hand aside and then punched the officer with his right fist. The man then grabbed Officer Gala’s legs and hoisted him into the air, slamming him down the curb on his lower back. It should be noted that the suspect was 6’ tall and weighed 275 pounds, over 100 pounds more than the officer. The three officers then struggled with the suspect, attempting to control him. Other officers, particularly Officer Wolf of Mission Station arrived to aid the officers who were then able to control the suspect.

After the officers had placed the suspect in handcuffs, a 270 pound woman tried to interfere with the arrest. Officer Wolf told her to stay back, but she tried to grab at the now cuffed suspect. Because she would not stay back and continued to interfere with the arrest, Officer Wolf attempted to arrest her and place her in handcuffs. The woman started screaming profanities and continued to resist arrest. Officer Primiano arrived on scene and the two officers were finally able to control the woman. As the woman was being walked to a patrol car, she started twisting and trying to break free. Officer Keeve assisted getting her into the car.

The man was booked on battery and assault charges on the officers at county jail. The woman was cited for obstruction and interfering with an officer’s duties and released from Bayview Station.

Thursday, May 25, 2006, 8:15 PM, 23rd and Wisconsin, Assault on an officer/resisting arrest (case # 060556510)