The police department identified 40-year-old Lasonya Wells as the suspect who robbed and extorted Supervisor Scott Wiener last Friday when she stole his cell phone and then asked for money to have it returned. The Castro supervisor recounted his tale to San Francisco Magazine on Monday, saying it was actually a ploy of his to lead the thief to an ATM so she could be captured on camera.
It all began on 16th and Valencia streets, when Wiener had his phone snatched by Wells while two men stood nearby watching. Wiener purportedly negotiated with Wells to pay for his phone: An initial offer of $500 was worked down to $200, at which point Wiener led Wells and the two men to a nearby ATM, knowing they would be filmed by the bank’s cameras.
Wiener handed over the money and received his phone back, but a bank security guard and the supervisor flagged down police officers from the Mission Station — just a block away on 17th and Valencia — and the officers began canvassing the area, according to a police press release. They obtained evidence that led the police to her residence, and Wells was arrested at her home.
For this crime, Wells was booked on seven charges: kidnapping for ransom or extortion, kidnapping, extortion or blackmail, robbery with force, grand theft, possession of stolen property, and probation violation. The first five charges are felony charges, and the last two can be charged as either felonies or misdemeanors, according to a police spokesperson.