News :: Crime

Almena sentenced to 12 years for Ghost Ship fire

Almena sentenced to 12 years for Ghost Ship fire

  • by Ed Walsh
  • Mar 8, 2021

Ghost Ship master tenant Derick Almena heard emotional testimony before his sentencing Monday from some of the families of the 36 people killed in the Oakland warehouse fire more than four years ago.

Updated: Suspect in Castro fire in custody

Updated: Suspect in Castro fire in custody

  • by John Ferrannini
  • Mar 5, 2021

A naked man being sought by San Francisco police after a fire was allegedly set at a residence adjacent to the intersection at 18th and Eureka streets in the Castro neighborhood Friday afternoon has been arrested, police said.

Police, family searching for missing SF gay man

Police, family searching for missing SF gay man

  • by John Ferrannini
  • Feb 11, 2021

San Francisco Police are seeking the public's help finding a gay man who went missing early last month seemingly without a trace.

Marketing director at North Bay LGBTQ retirement community sexually assaulted youth, police say

Marketing director at North Bay LGBTQ retirement community sexually assaulted youth, police say

  • by John Ferrannini
  • Feb 3, 2021

A gay man who had been senior marketing director at the nation's first LGBTQ retirement community has been arrested on suspicion of sexual assault of a juvenile.

Almena pleads guilty in Ghost Ship fire, avoiding 2nd trial

Almena pleads guilty in Ghost Ship fire, avoiding 2nd trial

  • by Ed Walsh
  • Jan 22, 2021

Ghost Ship master tenant Derick Almena pleaded guilty Friday (January 22) to 36 counts of involuntary manslaughter in connection with the Oakland warehouse fire that killed 36 people, including three who identified as transgender, on December 2, 2016.

Memorial held in Ohio for gay SF man who burned to death

Memorial held in Ohio for gay SF man who burned to death

  • by John Ferrannini
  • Nov 13, 2020

A memorial service was held November 12 in Ohio in memory of a gay San Francisco man who died from burn injuries in the South of Market neighborhood last month as police continue to investigate the case.

Upper Market dognapping has happy ending

Upper Market dognapping has happy ending

  • by Sari Staver
  • Oct 27, 2020

When Doug Roenicke returned to his Upper Market home on the afternoon of October 17, he was shocked to find that two of his 10-week-old French Bulldog puppies were missing.

B.A.R. launches memberships

B.A.R. launches memberships

  • by Cynthia Laird
  • Sep 18, 2020

In a continuing effort to receive support from readers, the Bay Area Reporter has launched its membership program.

Car crashes into Castro's Fitness SF

Car crashes into Castro's Fitness SF

  • by John Ferrannini
  • Sep 11, 2020

A car drove into 2301 Market Street in the Castro — the building where a Fitness SF branch is located — early September 11, according to multiple social media posts.

Castro neighborhood sees alleged burglaries, pepper spraying incident

Castro neighborhood sees alleged burglaries, pepper spraying incident

  • by John Ferrannini
  • Sep 1, 2020

A pepper spraying incident and two reported burglaries have occurred in and around the Castro neighborhood in recent days, according to the San Francisco Police Department.

Squatters take over Egg's former home

Squatters take over Egg's former home

  • by Ed Walsh
  • Aug 12, 2020

On the two-year anniversary of the gruesome killing of Brian Egg, the case remains unsolved and neighbors are expressing a growing concern over squatters they say have taken over the South of Market house where the 65-year-old gay man had lived.

SF judge declines to release man held in alleged attack on family

SF judge declines to release man held in alleged attack on family

  • by Sari Staver
  • Jul 16, 2020

A man who repeatedly slipped through the system and has been accused of attacking people in the Castro remains in custody in San Francisco County jail, following a preliminary hearing July 15 in connection with unrelated charges.

Arrest made in alleged break-in at Castro cannabis store

Arrest made in alleged break-in at Castro cannabis store

  • by John Ferrannini
  • Jun 11, 2020

An arrest has been made in an alleged break-in early Thursday at Eureka Sky, a cannabis retail store that opened in the Castro in February.

Police make arrest in alleged Castro burglary

Police make arrest in alleged Castro burglary

  • by John Ferrannini
  • Jun 10, 2020

Police have made an arrest in the case of an alleged burglary in the Castro early Wednesday.