Five Arrested In San Francisco Holiday Armed Robbery Spree
SAN FRANCISCO (CBS SF) -- Five suspects have been arrested in a holiday armed robbery spree that spanned across several San Francisco neighborhoods, police announced Friday.
San Francisco police said 19-year-old Moraga resident Serena Sumpter, 22-year-old Berkeley resident Marcus Murphy, 18-year-old Sacramento resident Katherin Wilson, 18-year-old Oakland resident Keith Smith and 18-year-old, Oakland resident Jayonn Blacknell were arrested by an investigation from a task force of several units from the department.
All five suspects were placed under arrest and booked at the San Francisco County Jail for five counts of robbery, conspiracy and aggravated assault with deadly weapon. Additionally, Murphy, Smith and Blacknell were booked for an additional charge of a probation violation as prior felons are prohibited from possessing firearms.
During these robberies, investigators said, the suspects approached and physically attacked the victims prior to stealing their possessions which included phones, jewelry, purses and shopping bags. A firearm was also brandished in several of the robberies.
Through the first week of December, units from SFPD's Northern Station, Central Station, Patrol Bureau Task Force (PBTF) and the Night Investigations Unit (NIU) saturated the city, focusing their efforts on the investigation.
On Sunday night, an officer from Northern Police Station spotted a vehicle marching one used in a recent robbery. The vehicle was stopped near Gough and Sutter Street and its occupants were subsequently detained and later arrested.
Stolen property and a firearm were seized during the arrest.
The San Francisco Police Department is continuing to investigate to determine if there is any connection between these suspects and other robberies in San Francisco and the Bay Area.
Although arrests have been made, anyone with information is encouraged to contact the SFPD Tip Line at (415) 575-4444 or text-a-tip to TIP411 with SFPD at the beginning of the message.
