Slashing in Dolores Park called self-defense

A 21-year-old man was stabbed in the arm by a victim he tried to steal a bicycle from in San Francisco’s Dolores Park, just two days after city officials and police addressed a crowd of residents concerned about safety in the park following a triple shooting there earlier this month.

A group of five men approached the victim at the Mission District park about 4:45 p.m. on Wednesday and tried to rob him of his bicycle, authorities said. The incident occurred in roughly the same area of the park where gunfire broke out on Aug. 3 and left three men wounded.

The man injured in Wednesday’s incident was slashed on the arm when the robbery victim fought back, police said. Police determined the victim acted in self defense.

The five suspects — 19, 21, 17 and two 16-year-olds — were detained, then released pending the outcome of the investigation, said Officer Giselle Linnane, a San Francisco Police Department spokeswoman. It does not appear the suspects were armed, officials said.

Officers stationed near the area of the incident immediately detained the suspects after a witness who saw the robbery attempt flagged down police.

Police upped patrols in the area following a string of violent incidents at the park in recent months, including the severe beating of a 23-year-old man who five attackers struck with bottles and a golf club in May.

San Francisco police Capt. Bill Griffin, said major criminal activity has fallen as a result of the increased police presence in the park.

Residents of the neighborhood around the park packed Dolores Park Church on Monday for a community meeting on measures to improve safety following the suspected gangrelated triple shooting in early August. One of the victims remains in critical condition.

No arrests have been made.