Mission Mission

In regards to our previous reporting on claims of a violent sexual assault on 19th and Capp Streets last weekend, the San Francisco Police Department have released a statement addressing possible similarities to another reported incident, as well as follow through. Here is the full statement:

Community Crime Prevention Advisory.

SFPD has identified the victim of a possible sexual assault which was first reported in a local news journal. The assault, which allegedly occurred in the early morning of hours of Monday, June 18, 2012, near 19th Street and Capp Street, was never reported to the Police Department. An investigation into the incident was initiated after Inspectors from the Special Victims Unit interviewed the author of the “Mission Local” article.

Investigators looking into the June 18th incident have discovered some similarities between the previously unreported incident, and a separate attempted sexual assault case, which was reported to police on June 15th and occurred just five blocks away. On June 15, 2012 on Erie Alley near 13th Street, a woman was approached from behind by two men who grabbed her from behind and attempted to sexually assault her.

In both incidents, the women were assaulted by two men, one short, possibly 5’-04” and the other taller, about 5’-10”. The men were described as being a Hispanic and an African American, or two Hispanic males.

Additional investigative personnel have been assigned to determine if there is any actual connection between these two incidents and Mission Police Station has increased patrols in the area.

The San Francisco Police Department is requesting that anyone having information on either of these incidents contact the SFPD by calling: the Anonymous Tip Line at (415) 575-4444 or Text a Tip via your mobile phone to TIP411 and type SFPD followed by your message. To report a life threatening emergency or crime in progress, call 911.

Also, via Uptown Almanac, here is a tip sheet that officers have handed out.

In addition, Maria tells us that San Francisco Women Against Rape is running a drop in & billingual Spanish/English free Self Defense Workshop at The Women’s Building this Thursday from 5-8 PM. If you have questions, SFWAR can be reached at (415) 861-2024.

We appreciate the commenters who have participated in the discussion by sharing personal stories, offering advice, gathering information and seeking to help the victim and survivors in general find healing, as well as to prevent future attacks.

No matter what the details are surrounding this particular incident, the fact remains that these kinds of crimes do happen. Without resorting to a response that could do more harm, such as racial profiling or excessive fear and paranoia, we hope that people will continue to look out for themselves and each other. As we see in the discussions that have arisen, an attack like the one detailed in our previous post can have an affect on all of us. It should not be minimized. It should not be acceptable. We hope for closure and healing for any victim, and hope to move forward together as a stronger community.

Additional reporting at The SF Appeal, Mission Local and SFist.

So rad.

Previously:

• It’s 8 o’clock

Summer is rad.

What do a Bialetti moka pot, a pink airplane, a Polaroid camera, an acoustic guitar, a striped suit with an umbrella, an unidentified creepy face, and a cactus all have in common? Well, they’re all part of this collection of sidewalk stencils in front of Radio Habana Social Club.

For a second, I thought it was another jab at hipsters, but I couldn’t quite figure out that striped ensemble (or that face). If anyone can decode this esoteric collection of things, let me know. I sure am fond of that moka pot, though.

And here’s another shot of that pretty little Telegraph Hill parrot stencil, just a few sidewalk squares away.

And it worked, because, look, now we’re all watching it:

Still killer!

From the official invite to last night’s performance:

Mission Baroque, San Francisco’s newest early music ensemble, will be providing a program of seventeenth century vocal gems that tug at the heartstrings.

And they did! This one’s called “Dido’s Lament”:

Mission Baroque rules!

Seriously, I saw it and got all flustered for a second. This thing is clearly not of this earth.

[Photo by C'mon Pony, but I helped by holding a spotlight on the thing]

This Saturday, the Believer and Tumblr are throwing a reading/party/meetup at the Make-Out Room. The reading includes a book launch by Sheila Heti and readings from several Tumblr writers, including our pals Melissa and Mills (and possibly Mills’ dogs). Party starts at 6pm!

Right before I snapped this I walked past two kids having a water balloon fight on the sidewalk just outside the park on Hoff. One of their balloons missed its intended target and hit the ground, splattering me a little, but mostly spraying an unmarked police car rolling through the alley. The kid who had successfully dodged the shot said “Whoa dude, you hit a cop!” The plain clothed officer said “Watch out.” and rolled on. I thought to myself, way to be vigilant, small child.

Our pal Kiran was just wondering:

whenever i go through the bay on BART i wish they would’ve made the tunnel transparent so we could see all the the cool underwater shit going on under there. i imagine it to be filled with tons of interesting little sea critters & the water to be all pretty & blue….but then i think about about & realistically, it probably would be the total opposite & filled with dead things & all green & murky & stuff i really don’t wanna see. so then i say ok & stare back at my ipod & continue avoiding awkward eye contact with all the people around me. [link]

It’d be trippy though, I bet.

[Photo by Bruce Mozart via Betsey J]