Suspect killed, 2 SFPD officers injured after Trader Joe’s theft pursuit

A theft suspect was killed and two San Francisco police officers were injured on Friday after all three were hit by a car during a foot pursuit that began at a Trader Joe’s, police said. 

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Officers from the San Francisco Police Department arrived at the Trader Joe’s at California and Hyde streets in San Francisco just after 7:30 a.m. after receiving a report of theft. The theft was reported by a Trader Joe’s employee, who had flagged down the police officers, Louis Wong, the president the San Francisco Police Officers Association, said in a statement. 

After the officers approached the suspect, Wong said, the confrontation allegedly escalated into a “violent struggle.” 

As the officers tried to detain the suspect, the individual allegedly ran away, SFPD said in a news release.

All three were hit by a car as police were chasing the suspect, and one officer was pinned underneath the car. Firefighters were able to rescue the officer, and all three people were transported to a local hospital. 

The suspect succumbed to his injuries and was declared dead, SFPD said. The two officers are recovering at the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. According to Wong, both officers had injuries to their legs. 

Police did not provide details about how fast the driver was traveling or what led up to the collision, but SFPD said the driver remained at the scene and is cooperating with investigators. 

The theft and pursuit remain an active investigation, and anyone with information is urged to call SFPD at 415-575-4444 or text the tipline at TIP411. SFPD did not respond to SFGATE’s additional questions about the theft and pursuit. 

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According SFPD’s foot chase policy, pursuits are “dangerous and unpredictable,” and officers should only initiate them “when they reasonably believe the person has committed an act that would justify a detention or arrest.” The policy was approved in 2023 after safety concerns regarding the pursuits. 

In a post on X, San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie said he spoke with both of the officers who were hit and is wishing them a “speedy recovery.”

“Every day, our police officers put themselves in harm’s way to keep San Franciscans safe,” Lurie said in the post. “… Any loss of life is a tragedy. I am grateful to the first responders who acted quickly to render aid to everyone involved.”

The San Francisco Fire Department did not respond to SFGATE’s request for information.

The collision comes approximately two weeks after an SFPD officer was injured in the line of duty. On May 31, a 36-year-old officer, Brittney Taylor, was shot and severely injured during a police car chase near the city’s Bayview neighborhood.