There was a violent incident on Cortland Avenue at Bennington on Sunday — right in the heart of Cortlandia. Witnesses say it was an upsetting scene. Neighbor Rick filed this report:

I’m saddened to write this, but our neighborhood witnessed a beating on the corner of Cortland and Bennington Sunday evening at about 5.30 pm.

A group of 4-5 men were in a shouting match that quickly escalated into a fight, which in turn became a beating as 2 of the assailants were kicking one of their downed opponents.

We don’t know what the argument was about (we were halfway up Bennington walking down, and although we could see the action, we couldn’t hear details) but it was a crowded evening and a ton of Bernal neighbors were witness to the encounter. What we did hear was gangster-like posturing, racial slurs, and some seriously antisocial behavior.

One brave neighbor placed herself in between the attackers and the unconscious, bleeding man on the ground. My brother in-law and I honestly believe that if she hadn’t intervened, the attackers would have continued kicking this man and we fear he may have lost his life. (The woman left before the police came because she had her young daughter with her. The poor girl was sitting in front of Progressive Grounds, scared and confused. The woman gave me her details to pass on to the police so she could share her information, but she rightly wanted to get her little girl out of there.)

The attackers fled the scene and unless the woman who placed herself in harm’s way to stop the fight has more details about them, I’m not sure the police had much information to go on. (Most of us were more concerned with the injured man and getting help than with identifying the assailants). The injured man had 2 people with him who seemed to do little to help their comrade and who slinked away once the police arrived. We did ask them who the downed man was and if they knew the guys who beat him, and they said very little but ultimately “no” was the response.

I abhor this sort of base violence and I’m still pretty creeped out by the whole thing. We’ve noticed an escalation in aggressive behavior in Bernal over the past few Sundays (people being accosted by rowdy teenagers sort of thing, even my wife got yelled at by a couple girls in a passing car for not wearing enough Niners gear) but this is by far the worst I’ve witnessed. A few of our neighbors stepped up and that’s great, but this scene has shaken me.

Bernalwood also received this from a nearby merchant:

There was what seems to have been a gang fight at the corner of Bennington and Cortland [Sunday] evening. It was pretty bad and made me think (among other things) that the beat cops are missed these days.

If it was indeed a gang fight, that would mean this incident was non-random. Bernalwood has not yet received any further information from the SFPD’s Ingleside Station. Neighbor Sarah, your vigilant SFPD liaison, has been making enquiries, so we will update you here if more detail becomes available.

In the meantime, an important reminder: Statistically, yes, we are entering crime season. As Bernalwood has previously reported (almost exactly two years ago): the end of Daylight Savings Time means less evening light, which often sparks an uptick in street crime, as goons and hoodlums seek to exploit the early onset of darkness.

Stuff happens. Please be extra-alert this time of year.

Neighbor Mat had his custom-built bike stolen at gunpoint on Leese St. earlier this week, and his friends and neighbors are spreading the word:

Our singlespeed cross friend, Mat, was robbed at gunpoint one block from my house last night in Bernal Heights on Leese near Park and Mission. The motherfuckers took his bike and his wallet. One asshole pinned him against the car pointing the gun in his face while another one grabbed the bike and his wallet while he was unloading. I happened on the scene minutes after while Mat was giving a report to the police. I had bikes myself to unload. Better be sure I’m not going to be playing by the same rules anymore.

If you see the Gaulzetti bike in the picture attached, please notify Mat and the police immediately.

I talked to two cops in our precinct this morning, and they had little encouraging news. They said that only three teams patrol a huge swath of the city in the Ingleside District–Excelsior, Outer Mission, Bernal, Glen Park. They told me that there are few convictions and barely any jail time, one or two days max, for felony robbery when property is involved. The only sentences are for bodily injury, even if the people are caught on tape. They see the same thieves cycling through the system “hundreds of times” and “the courts just put them right back out on the street.” They said, “policing is a partnership between the community and law enforcement, and San Francisco is not a police-friendly city . . . there’s only so much we can do. . . . . the advice we can give you is don’t be a victim.”

A biased view I’m sure, but I’m lobbying to my landlord and other tenants for cameras and automated flood lights and signage. I’ve contacted Bernal Neighborhood Center to see what community policing goes on.

Neighbor Sarah, your ever-vigilant crime correspondent, shares this recommendation:

One thing that anyone interested in community policing should do is to contact SAFE to set up a neighborhood watch group. You can fill out the form here.

It may not be what immediately comes to mind after an incident like this, but having more trained eyes on the street goes a long way.

PHOTO: Neighbor Mat’s stolen bike

There was an arraignment hearing yesterday for Jules Sibilio, the boyfriend accused of killing Bernal resident Mary Atchison of Peralta Avenue late last month. At the hearing, Sibilio’s bail was doubled as prosecutors shared new details about a grim discovery made at the crime scene.

Henry K. Lee from the San Francisco Chronicle reports:

A San Francisco man pleaded not guilty Thursday to murdering his girlfriend at their Bernal Heights home as his bail was doubled to $2 million.

Jules Sibilio, 48, appeared in San Francisco Superior Court in the death of 42-year-old Mary Atchison, who authorities said died of blunt force trauma.

Assistant District Attorney Sam Totah asked for Sibilio’s bail to be increased from $1 million, saying he was a flight risk.

Police found signs of a struggle and a bag with bloody sheets and towels, suggesting Sibilio tried to cover up the slaying, authorities said.

PHOTO: Top, a tribute to Mary Atchison at Miller-Dogpatch Garden, by Telstar Logistics. Below, Jules Sibilio’s booking photo, Aug. 27, 2014

Medical Examiners were on the scene in Bernal Heights yesterday, after a woman was found dead inside a home on the 500 block of Peralta, near the corner of Ripley. Police initially deemed the incident “suspicious,” but this morning comes news that the woman’s boyfriend has been arrested in connection with a possible homicide.

Henry Lee from the Chronicle has the story:

The boyfriend of a woman found dead in her home in San Francisco’s Bernal Heights neighborhood has been arrested on suspicion of killing her, jail records show.

Jules Sibilio, 48, was booked at County Jail on suspicion of murder in the death of 42-year-old Mary Atchison. He is being held without bail.

Atchison was found dead at a home on the 500 block of Peralta Avenue about 9:30 a.m. Tuesday, police said.

Firefighters who responded to the scene believed the circumstances of the death were possibly suspicious and called police. Homicide investigators were summoned to the scene.

Police and the medical examiner’s office have not disclosed the cause of Atchison’s death.

The couple had lived in an apartment in a duplex for the past 10 years, said Jerry Vail, who owns the building with his wife and sister.

Lee has additional reporting on the circumstances that lead up to the discovery of Atchison’s body, so read his whole article.

A Bernalwood reader adds that neighbors had concerns about domestic violence at the address:

Those in the nabes knew this was bad news – I called the police some time ago as he was clearly beating the crap out of her as I was walking by with the dogs.  If anyone has info, they can contact the inspector on this, Daniel Cunningham: Daniel.cunningham@sfgov.org or 415-553-1109

Bernalwood will provide further updates as available.

UPDATE 11:08 am – Bernalwood drove by the scene later this morning. There we encountered two French tourists emerging from the building next to victim Mary Atchison’s home. The tourists said early Tuesday morning, as they returned home from a club at about 3 am, they heard a woman screaming inside the duplex building where Atchison lived.

This is a recent photo of victim Mary Atchison, via Facebook:

UPDATE: 29 August, 2014: KTVU reports that bail for Jules Sibilio has been set at $1 million:

A San Francisco Superior Court judge set bail at $1 million Thursday for a 48-year-old man arrested Tuesday on suspicion of killing a 42-year-old woman who lived with him in the city’s Bernal Heights neighborhood, according to the district attorney’s office.

San Francisco police arrested Jules Sibilio on suspicion of murder for the death of 42-year-old Mary Atchison, San Francisco police Officer Albie Esparza said.

The Examiner obtained this booking photo of Sibilio:

Last Saturday morning, Bernalwood received an urgent communication from Neighbor Annice on Prospect. Overnight, someone had stolen the beautiful new community bench she’d helped install:

Please send an ALERT for a beautiful community bench taken [Friday] night from Prospect. There is a wonderful story behind the bench; it was handcrafted for the neighborhood from a single tree felled in a forest north of Tahoe, milled and designed by a woodworking artist. [On Friday] night around 1:30 a small commotion was heard. The bench had only been in place for fifteen days, and was already appreciated as a welcoming addition to our neighborhood. We are heartbroken it disappeared.

As the saying goes, “this is why we can’t have nice things.” *sigh*

Happily, however, the story had brightened considerably by Sunday. The bench was recovered! It seems the urchins had not gotten far with it, in no small part because the bench is just so damn heavy.

But that has created a different problem, as Neighbor Annice explains:

The good news is the bench was found! Please ignore my earlier request unless you think there is a story about nightly rowdiness. Apparently drunken people tried to carry this ton bench, managed to get a block away. and abandoned it.

A neighbor took it in for protection and then saw our plaintive notice, posted like hopes for missing pets. My immediate neighbors were in an upset over the stolen bench. None of held high or even any hope. So perhaps the story mingles malicious behavior with the best of human behavior.

We still need a posse to return it a block away if any samaritans (strong) want to help, much appreciated if you could pass the word along.

UPDATE, 29 JULY: The Bench is Back!

Neighbor Annice is overjoyed:

The bench returns!
Many strong men ahoy!
Carried this lovely bench back to Prospect.
A feat!
We benchwarmed with wine and will try to handle security without compromising looks.
A small film is being made about the bench by a SOTA student.
Will keep you posted. May be a footnote to public art issues on the hill.
Merci beaucoup!

PHOTOS: Top, @TheRealWBTC. Below, courtesy of Neighbor Annice.