San Fransisco police and sheriff’s vehicles, including two black tactical vehicles, blocked Wiese Street between 16th and 15th streets late Thursday afternoon as officers conducted a search at a Wiese Street address.
By 7 p.m., six or seven people stood in the alleyway, their hands fastened with plastic zip-ties.
Witnesses said officers arrived just after 6 p.m. The first vehicles on the scene had a megaphone, witnesses said. One witness said the officers had a search warrant for 85 B Wiese St.
Wiese Alley during the raid. Photo by Oscar Palma
San Francisco police and sheriff’s department vehicle driving up 16th Street. Photo by Oscar Palma
An officer at the scene confirmed that the San Francisco Police Department had a warrant, but did not confirm the address.
Early on, there were as many as 15 vehicles involved — five in the alleyway, five on 16th Street, and another five on 15th Street. By 7 p.m. only four vehicles remained.
The detained men stood in the alley near the back entrance of 1950 Mission St., a public housing project.
“Oh they got my cousin, ” said a woman passing by the scene.
When asked what went on at the house, she said, “games.” What kind of games? “Games,” she repeated. “All kinds of shit goes on at that house.”
At 7:15 p.m. officers went into a Wiese Street address, but it was difficult to see the exact address.
Later, another neighbor said there were gambling machines inside, but by 7:40 p.m., officers had only extracted a bicycle.
Two sheriff department vans arrived on the scene around the same time. It was unclear if they would be transporting the men who had been detained.
SFPD has not responded to a request for comment.
Wiese Alley during the raid. Photo by Oscar Palma
Wiese Alley during the raid. Photo by Oscar Palma
Wiese Alley during the raid. Photo by Oscar Palma