Girls nabbed in SoMa attack that may be part of a series of assaults
The girls match the description of suspects in at least five attacks that began in July, police said, adding that the other incidents remained under investigation.
The girls were arrested Saturday, not long after the attack on Fourth Street near Mission Street. Two victims were injured when several girls attacked them around 3 p.m., police said.
A witness told the San Francisco Chronicle that the assault occurred outside HeyTea, a Chinese tea drink shop, when the assailants pulled two victims who appeared to be teen girls to the ground by their hair, then kicked them and punched them. The witness spoke to the Chronicle on the condition they not be named and in accordance with the Chronicle policy on anonymous sources.
Witnesses intervened, which caused the assailants to take off, police said, adding that the victims were treated for injuries that were not life-threatening.
Aware of the previous attacks, officers at the Real Time Investigation Center immediately accessed surveillance video of the assault and disseminated images of the suspects to patrol officers.
Officers in plain clothes located and detained the three suspects at Stonestown Galleria. The two older girls were arrested and cited on suspicion of assault. The 11-year-old girl was admonished in compliance with state law, police said. As per SFPD's policy, officers consulted with probation officers, who urged officers to release the girls to their parents at the scene, police said.
'Violent attacks like these will never be tolerated, and the SFPD will use all resources available to ensure our city is safe,' Interim Police Chief Paul Yep said. 'I am extremely disappointed in the actions of these individuals, and they will be held accountable.'
News of the arrests follows a report in the Chronicle about an attack in Rincon Hill where a witness said a group of assailants who appeared to be teens pulled a woman to the ground by her hair. Police said the group shoved the woman, who did not report any injuries. It was unclear Monday if the assault was related to the other attacks in recent weeks. No further details about the other attacks were available.
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