SF police make third arrest in Chinatown strong-arm robbery

San Francisco police Wednesday said they have arrested a third suspect in connection with a strong-arm robbery back in Chinatown last July.

Police have charged 22-year-old Christopher Jefferson of Sacramento, with robbery, assault by means likely to produce great bodily injury, aggravated battery causing serious bodily injury and elder abuse for his alleged involvement in the July 15, 2019 robbery that took place at Stockton and Pacific streets.

Jefferson was taken into custody with the help of the Stockton Police Department on April 1, according to the San Francisco Police Department.

San Francisco police said the three suspects involved lifted a 56-year-old San Francisco man off his feet and threw him to the ground.

A second victim, a 69-year-old San Francisco resident, tried to intervene but was knocked unconscious, police officials said.

During the attack, the suspects stole a watch off the wrist of the first victim.

Police arrested 19-year-old Dashawn Pierson of Oakland last October and 20-year-old Akeem Smith of Sacramento in January of this year.

The strong-arm robbery was one of many high-profile crimes against Asian residents in San Francisco in 2019.

Jerold Chinn

Jerold serves as a reporter and San Francisco Bureau Chief for SFBay covering transportation and occasionally City Hall and the Mayor's Office in San Francisco. His work on transportation has been recognized by the San Francisco Press Club. Born and raised in San Francisco, he graduated from San Francisco State University with a degree in journalism. Jerold previously wrote for the San Francisco Public Press, a nonprofit, noncommercial news organization. When not reporting, you can find Jerold taking Muni to check out new places to eat in the city.