SFPD Arrest Man Following Standoff at Pier 48

On Thursday, March 17, 2016 at 2:33PM, Dispatchers at the Department of Emergency Management received a call regarding a man going in and out of the water near Pier 48.  Officers from Southern Police Station and the SFPD Marine Unit responded. Upon arrival, the officers made contact with the man who was under the pier and appeared to be in crisis. The man refused to come out from under the pier and the officers requested assistance from the Department’s Hostage/Crisis Negotiation Team (H/CNT).  The individual had stripped down to his shorts, so hypothermia was a concern and medics from the SFFD were also summoned.

Rescuers were concerned the rising tides would trap the person underneath the pier. Assets from the SFPD Marine Unit and SFFD Fire Boat (equipped with rescue swimmers) took up position near the pier as negotiators attempted to talk him into moving to safety.  A member of the H/CNT offered a life vest to the subject, but he declined to take it.  During the course of the incident, the subject moved onto a barge that was tied to the pier and paced back and forth as negotiators tried to talk him into a position of safety.

During negotiations, officers were able to identify the man as Angelo Valdez, 27 year old San Francisco resident. Valdez was wanted for several outstanding warrants for domestic violence, spousal battery, violating a restraining order and resisting arrest. During negotiations, Valdez informed negotiators that he was an MMA fighter and that he would not comply with our orders.

As sunlight faded and air temperatures dropped, it became necessary to take Valdez into custody and move him to a position of safety. This was both for his well-being and for the safety of the police officers and fire department rescue swimmers.  At approximately 6:45PM, officers were able to corner Valdez on the edge of the barge.

Valdez continued to refuse to submit to arrest to be taken into custody and attempting to use a physical control hold was not be an option due to the high likelihood that both Valdez and officers would fall into chilly Bay waters.  An officer used his Department issued oleo resin capsicum spray to distract Valdez and to effect an arrest.  Valdez was taken into custody and officers provided first aid including blankets to keep him warm.  With the assistance of fire fighters, he was placed into a device called a “Stokes stretcher,” lowered onto a fire boat and moved to an awaiting ambulance at the pier. Valdez was subsequently transported to a local hospital for medical evaluation and was later booked at San Francisco County Jail for the following charges: resisting arrest, providing false identification, and trespassing. He was also booked for the following warrants: domestic violence, spousal battery, violating a restraining order and resisting arrest. Several photos taken at the incident accompany this press release.

Over the past several years the SFPD Hostage/Crisis Negotiation Team has seen an increase in its number of calls for service. Team members volunteer for the assignment and upon acceptance into the Unit, attend over 40 hours of specialized training annually. In 2015, the Team had over 50 call-outs. This incident is the Team’s fifteenth call-out for 2016.