DNA, cellphone records lead police to arrest in May attempted armed robbery

Police in San Francisco on Tuesday arrested a man in connection with an attempted armed robbery that occurred in May.

Dreshaun Townsend, 23, of South San Francisco, was arrested on suspicion of attempted robbery, assault by means likely to cause great bodily injury, a firearm enhancement and two outstanding warrants out of San Benito and Kern counties, according to the San Francisco Police Department.

On May 25 at 3:07 p.m., officers from the Mission Station responded to the 3800 block of 24th Street on a report of an armed robbery.

The victim, a 70-year-old man, told police he was standing outside on the sidewalk when a white sedan stopped, and an unknown man exited the vehicle, pointed a firearm at the victim and demanded the victim’s watch.

The family member of the victim, a 30-year-old woman, saw what was happening and tried to intervene.

A physical struggle ensued, and both victims fell to the ground and suffered injuries that were not life threatening.

The suspect returned to the vehicle and fled the scene.

The victims were treated for their injuries at the scene.

Investigators were able to obtain a sample of the suspect’s DNA from the victim’s clothing and were able to obtain the suspect’s phone records, which placed him at the scene, police said.

On Tuesday, officers served search and arrest warrants in the 3700 block of Radburn Drive in South San Francisco, and Townsend was taken into custody without incident.