Prolific Auto Theft Suspect Booked for Attempted Murder on an SFPD Officer 17-181
On November 5, 2017 at 4:19AM San Francisco Police officers took a stolen auto report at Webster and Pine Street. The victim, a 43 year-old, male, Daly City resident reported that while stopped at a red light, the suspect opened the door and dragged him out of the car. The suspect then fled the scene. The victim did not report any injuries.
On November 7, 2017 at approximately 12:29AM, uniformed San Francisco Police officers driving a marked SFPD radio car spotted the stolen Honda at the fueling pumps of a gas station on the 1500 block of Van Ness Avenue. As the primary officers approached the vehicle, the suspect started the car, shifted into reverse and sped away with the pump’s fueling nozzle still attached to the car. Additional uniformed officers responded to the gas station on foot. As the suspect drove in reverse through the gas station, he headed directly towards one of the other officers who had to move quickly to avoid being run down by the car. The suspect fled the scene an evaded arrest despite efforts to locate him. The Honda was recovered at approximately 3:00AM that morning, parked and unattended on the unit bock of Leavenworth Street.
Through the course of an investigation which included the dissemination of crime alerts, the suspect was identified. On November 16, 2017 at approximately 2:14AM, uniformed SFPD officers saw a black Ford parked inside a gas station located at Franklin and Turk Street. The Ford had been reported stolen from the 900 block of Franklin Street on November 11, 2017 at 8:40PM and the officers recognized this vehicle as one in which a suspect had from officers earlier in the evening. The officers saw a subject matching the one wanted from the November 7th incident walking away from the Ford. As officers closed in to detain the subject, he fled on foot but was quickly taken into custody. The subject was positively identified as the man wanted in connection with the November 7th assault.
Daniel Haile Zeru, a 33 year-old male, Hayward resident was booked at San Francisco County Jail on charges of attempted murder, aggravated assault, possession of stolen property, and vandalism in connection with the November 7th incident. He was also booked on charges of auto theft, possession of stolen property, evading a peace officer, resisting or delaying a peace officer, driving on a suspended license and a probation violation in connection with the incident on November 16th.
While an arrest has been made, this remains an open investigation. Anyone with information is asked to call the SFPD Tip Line at (415) 575-4444 or Text a Tip to TIP411 and begin the message with SFPD. You may remain anonymous.