Taylor Kate Brown reports for the SF Chron, "Homicide, rape, assault and robbery have doubled on BART [the Bay Area Rapid Transit system] in the last four years -- from 234 incidents in 2015 to 481 incidents last year -- after six years of relative stability, according to state Department of Justice records."
The report is prompted by a killing Tuesday.
The suspect, 39-year-old Jermaine Jeremiah Brim of San Francisco, was a hospital "walk-away" listed as a missing person at risk before he wandered onto a BART train, wearing a sweatshirt and no shoes, Interim BART Police Chief Ed Alvarez said.
The victim, 49-year-old Oliver Williams, intervened when Brim tried to steal the shoes of another man, authorities said. Brim allegedly took Williams' knife during a struggle and stabbed him to death. He was booked Tuesday on suspicion of first-degree murder and carjacking.
In dense urban areas, crime on the public transportation system is particularly detrimental to the quality of life. Where traffic is jammed and parking is scarce and expensive, there may be no other feasible way to get around. When people feel like they are in serious danger every time they get on a train, alarm bells should be sounding among the area's leaders. You are doing something gravely wrong.
Leave a comment