S.F. sues Richmond District massage parlor, alleging illicit activity ... - SFGate

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City Attorney Dennis Hererra.

City Attorney Dennis Hererra.

Photo: Natasha Dangond, The Chronicle

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2017 SF crime statistics from Jan. 1-April 6


2017 SF crime statistics from Jan. 1-April 6

Photo: Ted Andersen

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San Francisco has 10 police stations: Central, Northern, Southern, Bayview, Ingleside, Taraval, Richmond, Park, Mission and Tenderloin. The city makes crime data available to the public online through DataSF.

San Francisco has 10 police stations: Central, Northern, Southern, Bayview, Ingleside, Taraval, Richmond, Park, Mission and Tenderloin. The city makes crime data available to the public online through DataSF.

Photo: SFPD

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The Mission District covers the area east of Twin Peaks and south of Market Street to Cesar Chavez Street. The neighborhood has become a destination spot for specialty restaurants, shops and sunny-day people watching. However, the area has seen a huge rise in thefts in 2017.

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The Mission District covers the area east of Twin Peaks and south of Market Street to Cesar Chavez Street. The neighborhood has become a destination spot for specialty restaurants, shops and sunny-day people

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Photo: Google Maps

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Mission Station Captain: Bill Griffin

Capt. Griffin grew up in the Richmond District and attended George Washington High School. His father was a juvenile probation officer with the city for over 30 years and encouraged him to try a career in law enforcement. Griffin graduated from the SFPD Academy in 1981 and later earned a degree in Criminal Justice Management. He has served in the Mission, Southern, Park, Northern and Ingleside stations.

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Mission Station Captain: Bill Griffin

Capt. Griffin grew up in the Richmond District and attended George Washington High School. His father was a juvenile probation officer with the city for over 30 years and

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Photo: SFPD

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MISSION STATION: 5,742 records
No resolution: 4,018, Arrests: 1,639, Arrest/Citation rate: 28 percent
785 violent crimes (672 in 2016)

2,010 burglaries and thefts (1,140 in 2016)

Top crime type: Larceny/Theft, 1,325 incidents (563 cases in 2016)

2017: 601 assaults, 172 robberies, 203 burglaries, 262 vehicle thefts

(2016: 521 assaults, 142 robberies, 221 burglaries, 238 vehicle thefts)

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MISSION STATION: 5,742 records
No resolution: 4,018, Arrests: 1,639, Arrest/Citation rate: 28 percent
785 violent crimes (672 in 2016)

2,010 burglaries and thefts (1,140 in 2016)

Top crime type:

... more
Photo: Godong/UIG Via Getty Images

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SOUTHERN STATION:

Southern District incorporates the Ferry Building, extending to the SOMA, Embarcadero, and China Basin areas.

SOUTHERN STATION:

Southern District incorporates the Ferry Building, extending to the SOMA, Embarcadero, and China Basin areas.

Photo: SFPD

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Southern Station Captain: Daryl Fong

Capt. Fong grew up in the Bayview District and attended school in North Beach. Not ascribing to the traditional academic criminology path, he earned a BS degree in marketing at SFSU and then joined the SFPD in 1994. Fong trained at Richmond Station and served at Central Station as a patrol, plainclothes and school resource officer and has also served as a field training sergeant, internal affairs investigator and media relations spokesman.

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Southern Station Captain: Daryl Fong

Capt. Fong grew up in the Bayview District and attended school in North Beach. Not ascribing to the traditional academic criminology path, he earned a BS degree in marketing

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Photo: SFPD

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SOUTHERN STATION: 6,996 records

No resolution: 5,010, Arrests: 1,855, Arrest/Citation rate: 26 percent

737 violent crimes (672 in 2016)

2,932 burglaries and thefts (3,133 in 2016)

Top crime type: Larceny/Theft, 2,254 incidents (2,319 in 2016)

2017: 604 assaults, 156 robberies, 211 burglaries, 190 vehicle thefts

(2016: 560 assaults, 128 robberies, 268 burglaries, 158 vehicle thefts)

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SOUTHERN STATION: 6,996 records

No resolution: 5,010, Arrests: 1,855, Arrest/Citation rate: 26 percent

737 violent crimes (672 in 2016)

2,932 burglaries and thefts (3,133 in 2016)

Top crime type:

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Photo: Ted Andersen

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CENTRAL STATION:
Central Station is located in the center of tourism, commerce, entertainment and civic events. The district comprises the Financial district, Chinatown, North Beach, Fisherman’s Wharf, and three famous hills: Telegraph, Nob and Russian.
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CENTRAL STATION:
Central Station is located in the center of tourism, commerce, entertainment and civic events. The district comprises the Financial district, Chinatown, North Beach, Fisherman’s Wharf, and

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Photo: SFPD

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Central Station Captain: Paul Yep

Capt. Yep was born at San Francisco’s Chinese Hospital and raised in Chinatown. He attended Lowell High School and earned a BA degree in Business Administration from San Francisco State University. He joined the San Francisco Police Department in 1996, serving as a patrol officer at Central, Northern, Southern and Taraval Police Stations. He has also worked in the Community Relations Unit, Domestic Violence Reduction Unit, Vice Crimes Division, Station Investigations Teams and was the Director of Basic Training for the Police Academy until his promotion to Captain in 2016.

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Central Station Captain: Paul Yep

Capt. Yep was born at San Francisco’s Chinese Hospital and raised in Chinatown. He attended Lowell High School and earned a BA degree in Business Administration from San

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Photo: SFPD

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CENTRAL STATION: 4,561 records
No resolution: 3,683, Arrests: 803, Arrest/Citation rate: 18 percent
433 violent crimes (405 in 2016)

2,301 burglaries and thefts (2,230 in 2016)

Top crime type: Larceny/Theft, 1,175 incidents (1,640 in 2016)

2017: 309 assaults, 119 robberies, 206 burglaries, 133 vehicle thefts

(2016: 327 assaults, 101 robberies, 141 burglaries, 118 vehicle thefts)

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CENTRAL STATION: 4,561 records
No resolution: 3,683, Arrests: 803, Arrest/Citation rate: 18 percent
433 violent crimes (405 in 2016)

2,301 burglaries and thefts (2,230 in 2016)

Top crime type:

... more
Photo: Ted Andersen

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NORTHERN STATION:

The Northern District encompasses the Western Addition, Pacific Heights, Japantown, Polk Gulch, Russian Hill and the Marina. Although the Northern District is geographically one of the smallest, it’s one of the most densely populated with large apartment buildings, senior citizens’ residences, residential hotels, and public housing complexes.

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NORTHERN STATION:

The Northern District encompasses the Western Addition, Pacific Heights, Japantown, Polk Gulch, Russian Hill and the Marina. Although the Northern District is geographically one of the

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Photo: SFPD

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Northern Station Captain: John Jaimerena

Capt. Jaimerena was born in the Sunset and grew up on the peninsula. He joined SFPD in 1994 and spent much of his early career as a plainclothes and field training officer in the Southern Station. He later worked with the Gang Task Force at Tenderloin Station and became captain of Northern Station in 2016.

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Northern Station Captain: John Jaimerena

Capt. Jaimerena was born in the Sunset and grew up on the peninsula. He joined SFPD in 1994 and spent much of his early career as a plainclothes and field training

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Photo: SFPD

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NORTHERN STATION: 5,604 records
No resolution: 4,423, Arrests: 1,126, Arrest/Citation rate: 20 percent
436 violent crimes (485 in 2016)

2,883 burglaries and thefts (2,380 in 2016)

Top crime type: Larceny/Theft, 2,314 incidents (1,756 in 2016)

2017: 359 assaults, 81 robberies, 234 burglaries, 196 vehicle thefts

(2016: 408 assaults, 90 robberies, 224 burglaries, 198 vehicle thefts)

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NORTHERN STATION: 5,604 records
No resolution: 4,423, Arrests: 1,126, Arrest/Citation rate: 20 percent
436 violent crimes (485 in 2016)

2,883 burglaries and thefts (2,380 in 2016)

Top crime type:

... more
Photo: Ted Andersen

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PARK STATION:

The Park District serves Cole Valley, Haight Street, the Western Addition, Twin Peaks, and the Duboce and Castro areas. They work in patrol cars, on foot beats, patrol wagons and off-road vehicles in and out of Golden Gate Park.

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PARK STATION:

The Park District serves Cole Valley, Haight Street, the Western Addition, Twin Peaks, and the Duboce and Castro areas. They work in patrol cars, on foot beats, patrol wagons and off-road vehicles

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Photo: SFPD

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Park Station Captain: John Sanford Jr.

Capt. Sanford was born and raised in the Bayview/Hunters Point area and began his law enforcement career at age 14 as a Police Activities League cadet. Sanford attended Woodrow Wilson High School in San Francisco and holds a B.S. in public administration from the USF and an M.A. in leadership from Saint Mary’s.

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Park Station Captain: John Sanford Jr.

Capt. Sanford was born and raised in the Bayview/Hunters Point area and began his law enforcement career at age 14 as a Police Activities League cadet. Sanford attended

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Photo: SFPD

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PARK STATION: 2,258 records
No resolution: 1,767, Arrests: 456, Arrest/Citation rate: 20 percent

203 violent crimes (163 in 2016)

893 burglaries and thefts (948 in 2016)

Top crime type: Larceny/Theft, 582 incidents (620 in 2016)

2017: 168 assaults, 27 robberies, 130 burglaries, 106 vehicle thefts

(2016: 150 assaults, 26 robberies, 148 burglaries, 117 vehicle thefts)

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PARK STATION: 2,258 records
No resolution: 1,767, Arrests: 456, Arrest/Citation rate: 20 percent

203 violent crimes (163 in 2016)

893 burglaries and thefts (948 in 2016)

Top crime type: Larceny/Theft, 582

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Photo: Mathew Sumner, Special To The Chronicle

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TARAVAL STATION:

The Taraval District encompasses a large area of the western part of the city, extending from west of Twin Peaks to Ocean Beach and south to the county line and north to Lincoln Way. The Taraval district is mostly residential and contains many schools and the zoo.

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TARAVAL STATION:

The Taraval District encompasses a large area of the western part of the city, extending from west of Twin Peaks to Ocean Beach and south to the county line and north to Lincoln Way. The Taraval

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Photo: SFPD

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Taraval Station Captain: Denise Flaherty

Capt. Flaherty grew up in the Mission District and joined SFPD in 1991. She has served in Central, Northern, Taraval, Richmond, Ingleside, Tenderloin and Park districts and has worked in the Narcotics Unit, Burglary Detail, Homeland Security, and in the Tenderloin Task Force. She became Captain of Taraval Station in 2012.

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Taraval Station Captain: Denise Flaherty

Capt. Flaherty grew up in the Mission District and joined SFPD in 1991. She has served in Central, Northern, Taraval, Richmond, Ingleside, Tenderloin and Park districts

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Photo: SFPD

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TARAVAL STATION: 3,204 records
No resolution: 2,476, Arrests: 662, Arrest/Citation rate: 21 percent
312 violent crimes (257 in Taraval)

1,184 burglaries and thefts (1,292 in 2016)

Top crime type: Larceny/Theft, 790 incidents (816 in 2016)

2017: 282 assaults, 50 robberies, 188 burglaries, 145 vehicle thefts

(2016: 233 assaults, 47 robberies, 224 burglaries, 150 vehicle thefts)

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TARAVAL STATION: 3,204 records
No resolution: 2,476, Arrests: 662, Arrest/Citation rate: 21 percent
312 violent crimes (257 in Taraval)

1,184 burglaries and thefts (1,292 in 2016)

Top crime type:

... more
Photo: Stephen Lam, Special To The Chronicle

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BAYVIEW and INGLESIDE STATIONS:
The Bayview District covers one of the largest areas of the southeastern part of the city, extending along the eastern edge of McClaren Park to the bay and south to the San Mateo County line. The Ingleside Police District encompasses the area south of Cesar Chavez Street to the San Mateo County line, and area west from Highway 101 to Faxon Avenue and includes Balboa Park, McLaren Park and the Excelsior.

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BAYVIEW and INGLESIDE STATIONS:
The Bayview District covers one of the largest areas of the southeastern part of the city, extending along the eastern edge of McClaren Park to the bay and south to the San Mateo

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Photo: SFPD

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Bayview Station Captain: Raj Vaswani

Capt. Vaswani has more than 23 years of experience as a police officer, working in patrol, street crimes/narcotics plainclothes, investigative and field operations. He has worked in the Potereo, Ingleside, Southern, Northern, Park and Mission districts.

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Bayview Station Captain: Raj Vaswani

Capt. Vaswani has more than 23 years of experience as a police officer, working in patrol, street crimes/narcotics plainclothes, investigative and field operations. He has

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Photo: SFPD

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BAYVIEW STATION: 3,648 records

No resolution: 2,619 Arrests: 970, Arrest/Citation rate: 27 percent

476 violent crimes (500 in 2016)

1,143 burglaries and thefts (1,164 in 2016)

Top crime type: Larceny/Theft, 686 incidents (650 in 2016)

2017: 426 assaults, 77 robberies, 135 burglaries, 258 vehicle thefts

(2016: 468 assault, 64 robbery, 133 burglaries, 272 vehicle thefts in 2016)

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BAYVIEW STATION: 3,648 records

No resolution: 2,619 Arrests: 970, Arrest/Citation rate: 27 percent

476 violent crimes (500 in 2016)

1,143 burglaries and thefts (1,164 in 2016)

Top crime type:

... more
Photo: Kevin Schultz / The Chronicle

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Ingleside Station Captain: Joe McFadden

Capt. Joe McFadden grew up in the Mission District. With more than 27 years in the SFPD, he began his law enforcement career as an Ingleside station patrol officer and has since served in Field Operations, Tactical (SWAT) Team, Investigations Bureau, Management Control/Internal Affairs, Homeland Security, and Crime Scene Investigations.

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Ingleside Station Captain: Joe McFadden

Capt. Joe McFadden grew up in the Mission District. With more than 27 years in the SFPD, he began his law enforcement career as an Ingleside station patrol officer and

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Photo: SFPD

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INGLESIDE STATION: 3,099 records
No resolution: 2,270, Arrests: 765 Arrest/Citation rate: 25 percent
411 violent crimes (477 in 2016)

989 burglaries and thefts (1,074 in 2016)

Top crime type: Larceny/Theft, 571 incidents (555 in 2016)

2017: 350 assaults, 71 robberies, 159 burglaries, 231 vehicle thefts)

(2016: 432 assaults, 89 robberies, 167 burglaries, 278 vehicle thefts)

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INGLESIDE STATION: 3,099 records
No resolution: 2,270, Arrests: 765 Arrest/Citation rate: 25 percent
411 violent crimes (477 in 2016)

989 burglaries and thefts (1,074 in 2016)

Top crime type:

... more
Photo: PAUL CHINN

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TENDERLOIN STATION:

The Tenderloin District is the smallest of 10 district station areas. The Tenderloin Task Force was created on April 1st 1991 (with SF’s first bicycle patrol) to combat high levels of crime in that area and made its headquarters in the basement of the historic Hibernia Bank building. A new headquarters opened in 2000 at 301 Eddy St.

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TENDERLOIN STATION:

The Tenderloin District is the smallest of 10 district station areas. The Tenderloin Task Force was created on April 1st 1991 (with SF’s first bicycle patrol) to combat high levels of crime

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Photo: SFPD

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Tenderloin Station Captain: Teresa Ewins

Capt. Ewins spent her early years in SoCal but moved to the East Bay at age 10. She graduated from the SFPD Academy in 1995 and has since worked in the Southern, Mission, and Bayview stations. She has served in the Homeland Security Unit, the Special Victims Unit and the Fugitive Recovery Enforcement Team and led the Tactical Division before becoming Tenderloin Station captain in 2015.

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Tenderloin Station Captain: Teresa Ewins

Capt. Ewins spent her early years in SoCal but moved to the East Bay at age 10. She graduated from the SFPD Academy in 1995 and has since worked in the Southern,

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Photo: SFPD

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TENDERLOIN STATION: 2,336 records
No resolution: 1,303, Arrests: 984, Arrest/Citation rate: 42 percent

329 violent crimes (408 in 2016)

588 burglaries and thefts (680 in 2016)

Top crime type: Larceny/Theft, 427 incidents (479 in 2016)

2017: 262 assaults, 75 robberies, 42 burglaries, 33 vehicle thefts

(2016: 340 assaults, 89 robberies, 44 burglaries, 39 vehicle thefts)

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TENDERLOIN STATION: 2,336 records
No resolution: 1,303, Arrests: 984, Arrest/Citation rate: 42 percent

329 violent crimes (408 in 2016)

588 burglaries and thefts (680 in 2016)

Top crime type:

... more
Photo: Ted Andersen

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RICHMOND STATION:
Covering the northwest corner of the city, the Richmond District is largely residential, but also includes the commercial, shopping, and restaurant corridors of Geary Boulevard and Clement Street, most of Golden Gate Park, the Golden Gate National Recreation Area and the University of San Francisco campus.

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RICHMOND STATION:
Covering the northwest corner of the city, the Richmond District is largely residential, but also includes the commercial, shopping, and restaurant corridors of Geary Boulevard and Clement

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Photo: SFPD

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Richmond Station Captain: Alexa O’Brien

Capt. Alexa O’Brien grew up in the Marina and Richmond districts. She earned a BA degree in sociology with a minor in criminology from USF before graduating from the SFPD academy in 2000. She has served at Southern, Mission, Northern, Park and Ingleside stations. In addition, she has served in Vice and Night Investigations and led the Homicide Detail and Major Crimes Unit.

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Richmond Station Captain: Alexa O’Brien

Capt. Alexa O’Brien grew up in the Marina and Richmond districts. She earned a BA degree in sociology with a minor in criminology from USF before graduating from the

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Photo: SFPD

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RICHMOND STATION: 2,355 records
No resolution: 1,892, Arrests: 409, Arrest/Citation rate: 18 percent

150 violent crimes (147 in 2016)

1,148 burglaries and thefts (1,143 in 2016)

Top crime type: Larceny/Theft, 871 incidents (828 in 2016)

2017: 115 assaults, 23 robberies, 107 burglaries, 88 vehicle thefts

(2016: 128 assaults, 21 robberies, 106 burglaries, 148 vehicle thefts in 2016)

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RICHMOND STATION: 2,355 records
No resolution: 1,892, Arrests: 409, Arrest/Citation rate: 18 percent

150 violent crimes (147 in 2016)

1,148 burglaries and thefts (1,143 in 2016)

Top crime type:

... more
Photo: Liz Hafalia, The Chronicle

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Violent crime throughout San Francisco in 2017.

Violent crime throughout San Francisco in 2017.

Photo: Ted Andersen

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Thefts and burglaries throughout San Francisco in 2017.

Thefts and burglaries throughout San Francisco in 2017.

Photo: Ted Andersen

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S.F. sues Richmond District massage parlor, alleging illicit activity


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San Francisco City Attorney Dennis Herrera has sued the owners of a Richmond District massage parlor, accusing them of operating a brothel.


The lawsuit, filed Tuesday in San Francisco Superior Court, was announced at the same time as a $295,000 settlement the city reached with another alleged brothel on the edge of the Financial District, ending legal action that Herrera brought in February.


The new suit accuses Paradise Health Center at 242 Balboa St. of soliciting prostitution since at least October 2012 though advertisements in places “notorious for soliciting erotic services,” according to a statement by the city attorney’s office. The ads, featuring scantily clad women in provocative poses, had been posted as recently as Sept. 29 on Backpage.com, the city attorney’s office contends.


Paradise Health has been in trouble with the city before. San Francisco’s Department of Public Health has issued numerous health code violations related to massage therapy practices, including several instances of massage practitioners not being fully clothed while working.


A representative from Paradise Health could not be reached for comment Tuesday.


In May 2016, police and public health inspectors observed one Paradise Health worker engaging in a sexual act with a customer. That incident led the health department to suspend Paradise Health’s business license for 60 days in March.


The city attorney’s office said Paradise Health continued its prostitution solicitation, however. On Sept. 15, San Francisco police conducted an undercover operation, during which a massage practitioner allegedly solicited an undercover officer for sex.


Paradise Health, which is across the street from Peter’s Place Nursery School on Balboa Street, has for years been the subject of complaints from neighbors and school parents, the city attorney’s office said. When the spa attempted to appeal its 60-day business license suspension, several school administrators and board members asked the city to uphold the suspension. Many urged city officials to revoke Paradise Health’s permit altogether.


“It is completely unacceptable to have a brothel across the street from a preschool,” Herrera said. “With this lawsuit I aim to shutter (Paradise Health) once and for all, and to hold this business and this landlord responsible.”


In addition to asking the court to close the business for a year, Herrera’s suit also seeks to prohibit the property from being used as a massage parlor. The city attorney is also seeking to bar Paradise Health’s owners, Tian Yi Zhao and Chiu Hung Paul Tam, from operating a massage parlor in the future, in addition to monetary penalties.


Lisa Tang, who oversees the family trust that owns the building, is also named in the suit. The city’s suit seeks $25,000 for allowing prostitution to occur on the premises, $2,500 for each unlawful business act and $200 for each day of city health and planning code violations.


On Tuesday, Herrera also announced his office had settled a similar suit with the landlord and business owner of the now-shuttered Queen’s Health Center at 325 Kearny St., which the city sued in February, accusing it of being a covert brothel.


Under the terms of the agreement, Queen’s Health owner Jie Qin Zhou is prohibited from managing, investing in or operating a massage parlor or other personal-service business in San Francisco for 10 years, and outside of the city for five years. Frank Iavarone, who owns the building, is also barred from leasing space to a massage parlor for 10 years.


The city accused Queen’s Health of running a brothel since at least April 2010, despite numerous investigations and administrative penalties. The business closed within a month of the city’s suit being filed.


“After Queen’s Health Center thumbed its nose at authorities for years, we were finally able to put an end to their rampant violations of the law,” Herrera said. “I’m pleased that we reached a settlement that not only shuts their doors for good, but recoups some of the city’s enforcement costs.”


Dominic Fracassa is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: dfracassa@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @dominicfracassa


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