Investigation Into the Theft of Cremated Ashes Leads to Arrest of Wanted Narcotics Dealer 20-147

On December 3, 2020, at approximately 12:52 PM, San Francisco Police officers assigned to Tenderloin Station were at Golden Gate Avenue and Hyde Street when a 38-year-old female victim approached them. The victim told the officers that she was waiting outside of a business on the 300 block of Golden Gate Avenue when a suspect stole her jacket from atop her cart. The victim’s jacket contained a golden-colored locket that held the cremated ashes of her daughter.

Surveillance video captured the theft.

Investigators from the Tenderloin Station Investigation Team (SIT) commenced an investigation that uncovered surveillance video of the suspect. A crime alert bulletin was issued and members of the SFPD Narcotics Detail recognized the suspect as 25-year-old Walter Morazan.

Morazan was arrested by Tenderloin Station Officers on December 18, 2020, at 3:11 PM on Golden Gate Avenue near Larkin Street. He was booked into the San Francisco County Jail for the following violations: two counts of possession of a controlled substance for sale (11351 HS), possession of a controlled substance for sale (11378 HS), probation violation (1203.2(a) PC), and two counts of violation of a court stay away order (166 (a)(4) PC). The controlled substances seized from Morazan during this arrest are suspected to be heroin, methamphetamine, and fentanyl.

Morazan was also booked on numerous arrest warrants.

• Possession of a controlled substance for sale (11351 HS), bail $5,000.
• Possession of a controlled substance for sale (11351 HS), No Bail.
• Accessory to a crime (32 PC), No Bail
• Possession of a controlled substance for sale (11351 HS), No Bail
• Accessory to a crime (32 PC), No Bail
• Possession of a controlled substance for sale (11351 HS, 11378 HS).

The stolen jacket containing the locket with ashes were not recovered, and that aspect of the investigation is ongoing.

“The theft of her daughter’s ashes left the victim shaken,” said Tenderloin Station Captain Carl Fabbri. “Crimes like this also weigh on officers here at the station. We’re glad that we were able to arrest the suspect, but we’re disappointed that we were not able to recover the locket containing the ashes.”

While an arrest has been made, anyone with information regarding the suspect or possibly the location of the locket containing ashes is asked to call the SFPD Tip Line at 1-415-575-4444 or Text a Tip to TIP411 and begin the text message with SFPD. You may remain anonymous.