Dramatic Armed Robbery, Arrests In San Francisco Caught On Camera
SAN FRANCISCO (CBS SF) -- A surveillance video camera in the Russian Hill neighborhood this weekend captured San Francisco police officers foiling a dramatic armed robbery and arresting three suspects.
On Saturday afternoon shortly after 1 p.m., plainclothes officers from Central Station were working a vehicle theft abatement assignment in Russian Hill. The officers saw suspects park their Chrysler on the 1000 block of Filbert Street. One of the suspects remained in the car while the other two headed towards the "crooked" portion of Lombard Street on foot.
A plain clothes officer who was also on foot and observed the suspects. They are seen approaching three women victims who had been visiting Lombard Street about 40 seconds into the video.
The suspect pulled out a gun and demanded their property. On video, one of the three women is seen running away and screaming for help. At this point the plain clothes officer reported the robbery in progress called for back up.
The two remaining victims fought to keep the suspect from taking a backpack and camera. The other two suspects stepped in to help the first suspect take the items.
Together, the suspects overpowered the victims and took the items. But when they tried to make a getaway in their Chrysler, video shows one officer running up the hill with his gun drawn just before additional back up arrives in two unmarked police cars.
Police are seen taking down the suspects. Officers recovered both the stolen backpack and camera as well as a loaded handgun that had been reported stolen in Louisiana. The victims were shaken up but sustained only minor injuries.
The suspects were later booked at San Francisco County Jail. The three male suspects were identified as 20-year-old Santa Rosa resident Kordell Jamal Carter, 20-year-old Marin City resident Pravin Kevin Lal and 19-year-old Antioch resident Lamar Akeli Fontenot. Carter was charged with robbery,
conspiracy, possession of stolen property and firearms in addition to being booked on a felony burglary warrant from Marin County.
Lal was also charged with robbery, conspiracy, and possession of stolen property and firearms, while Fontenot was charged with robbery, conspiracy,
possession of stolen property and firearms and possession of a burglary tool.
Police said this remains an active investigation despite the three arrests. Anyone with information about the robbery is asked to get in touch with the San Francisco Police Department at their Anonymous Tip Line at 415-575-4444.
