Suspected thief died after fleeing citizens

By Tamara Barak, Bay City News Service

April 10, 2006

SAN FRANCISCO (BCN) - A man who appears to have jumped into a canal and drowned at Channel and Fourth streets in San Francisco this afternoon may have been trying to escape from at least one citizen who suspected him of theft and attempted to chase him down, police say.

Earlier reports incorrectly stated the man drowned following a police pursuit.

The San Francisco Medical Examiner's Office identified the dead man as 27-year-old Maurice Tillmon of San Francisco. An autopsy is scheduled for Tuesday.

The University of California, San Francisco police are conducting an investigation into Tillmon's death.

In addition, the San Francisco Police Department is conducting an independent investigation.

"We're conducting our independent investigation to document the circumstances surrounding the death of the person who was fleeing the scene of a burglary, but we found no reason to believe anything improper occurred,"

Officer Maria Oropeza of the San Francisco Police Department said.

UCSF spokesman Wallace Ravven said the incident began with a 911 call to campus police just before 2 p.m.. The caller reported that several laptop computers and other personal property were stolen from the community center on the university's Mission Bay campus. The center serves as a recreational facility for both students and the neighboring residents, as well as a public meeting space, Ravven said.

UCSF police responded to the incident and were told by several witnesses that "at least one person chased the suspect and lost sight of him near the canal northeast of UCSF Mission Bay campus," Ravven said.

Fire officials who searched the area found Tillmon's body in the canal. Tillmon reportedly matched the suspect description.

UCSF police ask that anyone with any information regarding the incident call Sgt. Ed Huang at 415-476-1414.

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