Hit-and-run rampage suspect Popal
to appear in court today

By Erica Holt / Brent Begin, Bay City News Service

September 6, 2006

SAN FRANCISCO (BCN) - A Fremont man accused of a slew of felonies in connection with a hit-and-run rampage in San Francisco on Aug. 29 that injured at least 14 pedestrians is scheduled to appear in San Francisco Superior Court today for an arraignment, the district attorney's office reports.

Superior Court Judge Donna Little on Thursday ordered a psychological report on Omeed Aziz Popal, 29, who didn't show up for his original arraignment and has been denied bail.

Popal is accused of 18 counts of assault with a deadly weapon, a felony count of battery on a peace officer causing injury and a felony count of reckless evasion from police, according to the district attorney's office.

A prosecutor said in court on Thursday that Popal had told authorities that he wanted to kill a police officer, but couldn't find any, as he allegedly plowed his black Honda Pilot into pedestrians in locations scattered throughout northern San Francisco from Pacific Heights to Presidio Heights.

San Francisco police reported that Popal began his rampage at Sutter and Webster streets and came to a stop only when police boxed in his SUV on Spruce Street between California and Mayfair streets and took him into custody. The entire attack lasted 14 minutes and created 13 crime scenes. An FBI agent on his lunch break, a cyclist, a teenager and a 52-year-old woman were among Popal's 14 victims in San Francisco, according to police.

Authorities believe that before the hit-and-run spree in San Francisco, in Fremont, Popal drove into and killed a 54-year-old pedestrian, Stephen J. Wilson of Fremont.

The Alameda County district attorney's reported that on Thursday it filed a murder warrant against Popal for the death of Wilson to ensure that Popal will be transferred to Alameda County eventually to face the murder charges.

Popal is scheduled to appear at 9 a.m. in department 12 at San Francisco's Hall of Justice, 850 Bryant St.

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