San Rafael Police Department - The Year in Review for 2015

January:
01/01/15 – Acting on a tip from the FBI, San Rafael Police arrested Samantha Johns, 19, for Human Trafficking at the Transit Center.
01/06/15 – The City Council put a 45 day freeze on applications for any new massage parlors in an effort to reduce the number of sexual massage parlors in the city.
01/12/15 – A fight at Canal and Fairfax Streets led to the shooting of one person who was found a short distance away. Injuries were not life threatening. No suspects were reported.
01/14/15 – The Marin Independent Journal ran an article concerning Marin Police Departments acquiring weapons and other items from the Federal Government. This included a Rescue Vehicle obtained by SRPD.
01/22/15 – During an awards ceremony at the Civic Center, two apparent gunshots were heard inside the building, which resulted in a large police response where the entire building was searched. The reported shots were traced to two tires popping on a wheelchair.
01/23/15 – SRPD officers responded to 355 Canal Street regarding a gang fight. Two persons were stabbed and one suspect, Jorge Martinez was arrested for the assaults.
01/26/15 – Boyd Park was ordered closed by Mayor Gary Phillips in an effort to move the homeless from camping on the site. The city also planned a cleanup of the park.
February:
02/07/15 – SRPD officers responded to a juvenile party on San Marino Drive and detained about 75 juveniles who had alcohol present. The party was put on by two sisters while their parents were out of town. Several were cited.
02/13/15 – SRPD officers, in an attempt to curtain drug dealing at the transit center, arrested three people for drug violations during an operation there.
March:
03/14/15 – SRPD arrested Pablo Ajpop-Tcoz for rape after an investigation revealed that he sexually assaulted a 36 year old female in the Canal District.
03/23/15 – SRPD started a private surveillance camera registry. The program invited businesses and home owners with surveillance cameras to register with the P.D. in order for officers to quickly access footage of crimes. The program is voluntary.

03/24/15 – SRPD arrested Michael Calderon, 22 years after he stabbed a person during a fight at the 7-Eleven Store on Medway Road. The fight started after Calderon and the victim bumped into each other while entering the store.
03/30/15 – Records and Comm. Specialist Lori Coen retired from SRPD after serving for over 30 years.
April:
04/03/15 – SRPD investigated a case of a person working in the Canal District who was offering fortune telling services. One victim had a ring and $200 stolen from her when the suspect told her she was going to have bad luck and the victim needed to give the suspect some of her property.
04/03/15 – In a rare arrest, SRPD booked Filiberto Yah-Yah, 21 years for riding a bicycle while under the influence. He was pulled over after he was observed going through a stop sign.
04/03/15 – SRPD Special Operations Unit arrested Bryan Parrish, 26 years after they set up a sting at Walgreens on Third Street. They left an expensive bike in front of the store and Parrish took it.
04/04/15 – SRPD arrested Dwayne Furgeson, 31 years, from San Leandro, for pimping a teenage girl in town. He was pulled over at 1:00 AM after he was observed in a vehicle with the young girl.
04/08/15 – Christopher Wootton, the “Cotton Ball Bandit” went on trial for committing a series of bank robberies in Marin County. On 12/11/13, Wootton was captured after he robbed a bank in Novato and he was chased to the Northgate Mall. He was shot by a Marin Sheriff’s Deputy when Woottom displayed a gun.
04/09/15 – SRPD arrested three suspects who had been prowling at a residence on Skyview Terrace. The suspects fled prior to police arrival; however they were stopped on Highway 101.
04/20/15 – In March SRPD conducted an investigation involving Yiu Leung who was a suspect in the molestation of a developmentally disabled person at a Terra Linda facility. On 4-20-15, Leung drove his car over a cliff in San Luis Obispo County. He did not survive his injuries.
04/24/15 – SRPD arrested a male and two females after they stabbed a female in the head multiple times by the Pickleweed Community Center.
04/26/15 – Boyd Park, which had been closed since the first of the year, reopened to a large crowd of citizens who came to celebrate the newly renovated park.
04/30/15 – “Cotton Ball Bandit” Chris Wootten was convicted by a Marin County Jury on all counts. He could face life in prison.



May:
05/02/15 – Glenda Bernardini was held to answer in Marin Court as a result of her plunging a 12 inch knife into her boyfriend’s head in November of 2014 after a domestic dispute.
05/05/15 – SRPD conducted a DUI Checkpoint on Lincoln Avenue that resulted in three DUI arrests, 12 people cited for driving with no license and three for driving with a suspended license.
05/08/15 – SRPD began an investigation of reports of a man who was sexually assaulting women while they were walking on the trail behind the Target Store pushing babies in strollers.
05/28/15 – SRPD arrested Malfredo Hernandez, 19 years, when officers responded to the west side of the pedestrian walkway over Highway 101. A witness reported a man dragging a woman in the area. While checking the area, officers found the suspect in the act of sexually assaulting the woman.
June:
05/24/15 – SRPD arrested Calvin Burns, 30 years for human trafficking after an investigation revealed that he forced two teenage girls into prostitution.
05/26/15 – Danny Ray Bester, 52 years was sentenced to 15 years in prison for committing a series of robberies in the county. On 9-30-14, he robbed the Shell Station in Terra Linda.
06/02/15 – San Rafael High School student Aura Machado was struck and killed by a van while jogging on Point San Pedro Road.
06/02/15 – SRPD officers responded to a bank robbery at the Bank of Marin at 1101 Fourth Street. While looking for the suspect, they contacted a possible person at the transit center. The subject became uncooperative with officers and he was arrested. It turned out that he was not the bank robber, but he was wanted for attempted murder in the East Bay.
06/08/15 – The City of San Rafael held a public meeting at the B Street Recreation Center to address the homeless problem. A large crowd attended.
06/09/15 – The man who robbed the Bank of Marin on 6/2/15, was arrested by the FBI in Los Angeles. Darius Gilbert, 48, known as the “Clean Cut Bandit” was booked for a series of robberies he committed throughout the Bay Area.
06/19/15 – Victor Deleon, 21, was sentenced to 22 years in prison for the March 1, 2014 shooting of a man at the Pa’s Mexican Filipino Cuisine on B Street. The shooting was reported to be gang related.
06/24/15 – The single family residence built in 1884 at 1309 Fifth Avenue was torn down after the City acquired the property to build a new public safety building.
06/26/15 – Christopher Wootton, the 61 year old “Cotton Ball Bandit” was sentenced to 60 years in prison for his series of bank robberies he committed throughout Marin.
July:
07/17/15 – Alleged gang member Cameron Weaver, 25 years, was indicted by a grand jury for the December 13, 2013 shooting of a person walking on Bahia Way. Weaver was alleged to have shot the victim in the leg during a drive by shooting.
07/22/15 – The San Rafael City Council approved a 72-million-dollar plan to build a new public safety building and upgrade several fire stations.
07/26/15 – The San Rafael City Council approved a plan to have officers walk foot patrol for a three-month pilot project to improve safety and security in the downtown area.
07/27/15 – SRPD opened an investigation of a reported sexual assault that took place on the Dominican University campus. The victim, who was not related to the University, reported that she had been assaulted while walking on campus.
August:
08/04/15 – SRPD participated in the annual National Night Out program, visiting many neighborhoods in town.
08/14/15 – A suspicious fire burned two acres of grass on Quail Hill in Terra Linda.
08/21/15 – The City of San Rafael and the County of Marin started to explore a “one stop” campus for the homeless which would offer housing and other services.
08/21/15 – SRPD officers responded to St. Raphael’s Church regarding a man who was reported to be armed who had confronted a priest in Tiburon. Officers received information that the suspect was at St. Raphael’s. The officers were able to take the man into custody peacefully.
08/22/15 – After being on the run since the 2005 homicide of Ana Mejia, Francisco Carrillo-Perez was extradited from Guatemala to San Rafael. Carrillo-Perez was arrested in Guatemala in December of 2014 and he was finally returned to San Rafael. He was being held on one million dollars bail.
08/28/15 – The City of San Rafael, working on plans for the new public safety facility, reported that the new building could be open by the summer of 2019.
September:
09/02/15 – Paris Ragland, 30 years, out of San Mateo, was arrested for robbing a couple in the Gerstle Park area of San Rafael. About a week later he robbed and beat a woman on Merrydale Road, fracturing her skull. Ragland was tracked down when he attempted to use credit cards belonging to the first victims.
09/16/15 – SRPD participated in the annual Tip-A-Cop program at Applebee’s in Terra Linda.
09/19/15 – Officers responded to the Safeway parking lot on B Street after receiving a report of a gunshot in the area. Upon arrival they found a 32-year-old male limping in the parking lot with a gunshot wound to his leg. The victim was uncooperative with police.
09/22/15 – A citizen on Larkspur Street in the Canal District reported that he was robbed at gun point by a lone male. A short time later a female reported that a man propositioned her for sex. When she refused, she ran to her apartment and the suspect tried to force himself in but was not successful. Officers located Aikeen Roberts, 28 years a short distance away. He was booked for the crimes and he also had a lengthy criminal record for auto theft and burglary.
09/28/15 – Officers responded to a report of a possible robbery at a hotel in the Canal District. There had been a dispute between a prostitute and two men. The prostitute’s enforcer showed up with a sawed off shotgun and threatened the men. Police booked Cameron Magiera, 24 for robbery, prostitution and conspiracy.
09/30/15 – An 83-year-old woman received a phone call from a man who claimed to be her grandson. He stated that he was in trouble and he needed $50,000 for bail money. The woman wired the money and it was later determined that the call was a scam. The money was not recovered.
October:
10/01/15 – SRPD officers with the Major Crimes Task Force, raided a home at 45 Manderly Road on a tip that the occupants were growing marijuana. There was also a report of child abuse at the house. Authorities found 18 mature marijuana plants and 13 pounds of marijuana. A package of 26 pounds of marijuana was also found as well as another package of 13 pounds. The D.A. was reviewing the case.
10/06/15 – The San Rafael City Council voted to lift their ban on the opening of new massage parlors. The council had enacted a ban in January of 2015.
10/13/15 – Police arrested Israel Rachac-Marroquin, 27 after he contacted a male and female sitting on a bench in the Baypoint area. The suspect asked the female for sex and when she refused, he sexually attacked her. The male tried to stop the attack and the suspect pulled out a knife. The male called police and officers located the suspect in the area.
10/15/15 – Officers responded to a report of an explosion in a condo on Bahia Circle. Upon arrival they found Alex Watson, 23 with burns on his body. Evidence was obtained that showed the suspect was running a cannabis oil drug lab. He was arrested after being treated for his injuries.
10/19/15 – SRPD and Novato P.D. ran a prostitution sting in their respective cities and they cited 16 men for various offenses.
10/27/15 – Michelle Maxwell, 44 received a prison sentence of 7 years for being the getaway driver of a car during several bank robberies in Marin. She and Ray Lacy, 34, were responsible for over 11 bank robberies, with some being in southern California and in Florida. One of the banks robbed was Citibank on Third Street in San Rafael on 12-20-12.
10/19/15 – Two males were parking their car in the area of Francisco and Harbor Street when they were robbed at gunpoint by two suspects. After the two robbers left, the victims decided to follow them in their car. When the robbers realized that they were being followed, one of the robbers shot at the victim’s car striking it. A search was conducted; however the suspects were not located.
10/20/15 – Police received a call at 2:52 AM from two women in an apartment on A Street. They reported that one of the women was awakened by a man who was in her home rubbing her shoulders. Upon arrival of officers, the suspect jumped off the balcony and fled, however he was captured a short time later. Police booked Raul Lizama, 33 into Marin County Jail for burglary and for assault with intent to commit rape.
10/3/15 – City officials announced that they would continue the downtown foot patrols by officers as it had a positive impact on the downtown. They were also considering hiring an analyst to study the homeless problem in the city. They were considering spending 1.6 million dollars in one time funds to keep the current program running and to expand it.
November:
11/03/15 – Residents met with the city to voice their concerns about the Mahon Creek path that runs from Davidson Middle School to Second Street. Residents were concerned about human waste, needles and other drug paraphernalia in the area.
11/16/15 – Roy Lacy, 34 was convicted in Marin Superior Court for robbing three banks in San Rafael and one in Novato. Lacy was responsible for robbing 13 banks with a total take of $171,623. His getaway driver, Michelle Maxwell, previously plead guilty.
11/18/15 – The City Council voted to hire a homeless overseer at a salary with a range of $96,000 to $117,000.
11/21/15 – Police arrested Pierre Saucer, 32 when he pulled out an unloaded gun and pointed it at a homeless man on B Street and pulled the trigger three times.
December:
12/04/15 – Police warned the public about a scam where residents would receive a text message to pay $5,000 or they would be killed.
12/17/15 – Police heard gun shots in the area of the Safeway Store and upon investigating they located Pierre Saucer, 32, who had a firearm and who fired it several times. He was arrested for assault with a firearm. He was out on bail from a previous firearms violation.
12/16/15 – Marin Sheriff’s Deputies tried to contact a man standing in the street at the Hub in San Anselmo. The man jumped into his car and a vehicle pursuit started. The subject drove up B Street the wrong way and then foot bailed and ran into the offices of the soup kitchen. Malfred Spencer, 54, was located and booked at Marin County Jail.
12/17/15 – Dispatcher Nick Pata retired from the Police Department after 26 years of service.
12/23/15 – East Bay Law Enforcement agencies worked together to form a task force to investigate a group known as the “Ghost Town Gang.” A Grand Jury indicted 21 suspects on 72 counts with a good number of the crimes being auto theft. This group was active in San Rafael over the past several months.
12/23/15 – The San Rafael Police Department announced that they would be starting the Citizen’s Police Academy again after an absence of several years. Classes will start in March of 2016.
Homicides:
San Rafael recorded no homicides for the year 2015. The last reported homicide in the city was on 9-9-2011 when Alicia Griffiths was killed in her Canal District apartment. Robert Lee Bradley, 51 was booked for her murder and received a sentence of 9 years in prison. This is one of the longest stretches of no homicides in the history of the city.

In Memoriam

02/20/15 – Long time Novato Police Officer Steven Cogan (ret) died at the age of 57.
03/03/15 – San Rafael Police Chief Frank Benaderet passed away at the age of 77. He served from 1976 to 1981. He was San Rafael’s 9^th Police Chief.
05/10/15 – Giodano Alberigi, who worked at the Sausalito Police Department as a Sergeant, the San Anselmo Police Depart and the Marin Sheriff’s Department died at the age of 81.
05/26/15 – Retired Marin County Sheriff’s Lt. Barry Heying passed away. He spent 31 years with the Sheriff’s Department. He spent 4 ½ years as the Director of Public Safety for the City of Ross while on loan from the Sheriff’s Department.
07/09/15 – Long time Marin CHP Sgt. James Dukes (34S1), passed away at the age of 92.
09/03/15 – Marion Grady, who served as San Rafael’s City Clerk from 1969 to 1977 and who overall worked for the City of San Rafael from 1949 to 1977, died at the age of 95.

End of Report

Copyright 2016 Harry Barbier – All Rights Reserved