A man faces up to four years in prison after a jury found him guilty of stalking and assaulting his former girlfriend in a South San Francisco hotel room, a prosecutor said Tuesday.

Dustin Taylor, 33, of San Pablo, was convicted of domestic violence, felony assault and stalking in connection with the May 6 incident, Assistant District Attorney Rebecca Baum said.

Taylor contacted his ex-girlfriend, whom he dated for about a year, on Facebook at 5:40 a.m. and learned she was staying at the Sonesta Select San Francisco Airport Oyster Point Waterfront hotel at 1300 Veterans Blvd., and drove there in search of her, the DA said.

The woman let Taylor into her room, where an argument over their relationship ensued. She told him to leave, and before doing so, Taylor strangled her with both hands, causing the woman to experience lightheadedness and difficulty breathing, according to Baum. The woman had bruises on her neck, jaw, shoulders, arms and torso.

Later that night, Taylor returned and demanded to be let in the room, but the woman barricaded the door and called 911, Baum said. Police arrived and arrested Taylor.

Taylor remains in jail on $100,000 bail and sentencing is scheduled for Nov. 6.

A man driving under the influence has been charged with manslaughter after a fatal solo-car crash, according to a prosecutor.

Briand Dominguez Torres, 29, of San Francisco, was arrested Sunday after crashing into a light pole near El Camino Real and westbound Interstate 380, killing Eric Perez Ramos, Assistant District Attorney Rebecca Baum said.

Dominguez Torres and Ramos were leaving Taqueria Leon at 551 San Mateo Ave when Dominguez Torres crashed into a light pole at 12:51 a.m, according to San Bruno Police.

The San Bruno Police Department’s Major Accident Investigation Team responded to the scene and determined Dominguez Torres was under the influence of alcohol. Investigators also found a small bag of cocaine in his wallet, according to Baum.

Both men were transported to Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital with major injuries, Sgt. Scott Smithmatung said. Ramos, 22, of San Francisco, later died at the hospital from his injuries.

Dominguez Torres is in jail without bail and is scheduled to appear in court on Sept. 9.

A man who smashed 41 windows at a Daly City school, causing an estimated $80,000 in damage, was sentenced Monday to five months in jail and two years of probation, according to a prosecutor.

Enkhbilig Tengis, 29, of Walnut Creek, pleaded no contest to smashing the windows of a gas station, middle school and parked car all in one day, Chief Deputy Attorney Shin-Mee Chang said.

Tengis drove to a Valero gas station in Daly City at 3 a.m. on Aug. 24, 2025. He used a hatchet to smash the gas station’s window, resulting in $800 in damage, according to Chang. At the time, an employee witnessed the incident and reported it to the police.

At 3:35 a.m., Tengis drove to Benjamin Franklin Middle School and smashed an additional 41 windows, causing $80,000 more in damages. The principal arrived the next morning to the shattered windows and reported it to the police, Chang said.

Tengis then drove to the 600 block of Lake Merced at 4:20 a.m. and swung on a parked Tesla three times with the hatchet.

All three incidents were caught on surveillance cameras, and Daly City Police arrested Tengis five days later at his home in Walnut Creek.

Tengis will be back in court for restitution on Nov. 19, which will determine how he will compensate the victims.

More than two years after a Daly City martial arts studio raised concerns about stray golf balls from San Francisco’s Olympic Club potentially endangering its students, the studio is still pushing for a safety net.

The issue resurfaced at a June Daly City Council meeting during a discussion of The Olympic Club’s plans to renovate Westlake Park, when Councilmember Dr. Rod Daus-Magbual questioned what progress has been made toward addressing the golf balls.

Joseph Bautista, owner of Legacy Filipino Martial Arts, launched a petition for a safety net in April 2025 after saying he recovered more than 30 errant golf balls that had sailed over the shared fence separating The Olympic Club and Doelger Arts Center at 200 Northgate Avenue.

Bautista says a July 27, 2024, incident was particularly concerning: A golf ball nearly struck two children — ages 1 and 12.

“Knowing that golf balls are being hit our way where kids play and hang out with their family is something that can’t be ignored,” Bautista said. “If something were to happen to someone, I don’t think I’d be able to let it go.”

The Olympic Club and the Doelger Arts Center — home to Westlake School of Performing Arts and Legacy Filipino Martial Arts — share a fence. The Olympic Club, the oldest athletic club in the United States, is on San Francisco property and the arts center sits on the Daly City side.

Over the last two years, Bautista says he has recovered nearly 100 golf balls and emailed the athletic club each time he discovered a new one. He said there have been no recent incidents, which he believes may be related to renovations at the club’s Ocean Course.

Bautista says he’s been in regular communication with elected officials in both Daly City and San Francisco to address the issue.

Mayor Glenn Sylvester said during the June meeting that he had no idea golf balls were landing at the arts center.

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“We are aware that a limited number of errant golf balls have landed on the adjacent Daly City-owned property,” The Olympic Club said in a statement to Peninsula Buzz. “We are a good neighbor and are pleased to work collaboratively with Daly City toward a solution that is appropriate and proportionate to the situation.”

According to Bautista, The Olympic Club has responded to his concerns in several ways, including saying it would investigate the problem and directing him to pay for a net himself. Bautista also says the club has deflected responsibility for the errant golf balls.

“They are the ones hitting the golf balls,” Bautista said. “They should be responsible for them. We just keep hearing various excuses.”

Bautista said The Olympic Club also told him that the club had been there longer and that students and families using the center should be aware they were near a golf course.

The Olympic Club said Daly City is responsible for creating a remedy.

“Because the affected property is owned and controlled by Daly City, any proposed remedy would ultimately need to originate with the city,” The Olympic Club said. “Once Daly City develops a proposal, we will review it promptly and provide support in that effort.”

The Olympic Club did not respond to a follow-up question asking whether they deflected responsibility for the stray golf balls.

For now, Bautista says he’ll continue raising concern with local leaders.

“In martial arts, our jobs are to teach people to be safe,” Bautista said. “Not just from a physical altercation, but anything that can cause harm. As humans in our society, if we see something that could be harmful to someone, it’s our moral and ethical duty to do something to prevent it.”

The former executive director of a Daly City senior home is set to go to trial on charges of embezzling $40,500 after admitting to investigators that he took the money, a prosecutor said.

Shayan Gheisar, 31, of San Francisco, faces up to three years in prison for allegedly diverting payments made by residents’ families deposited into his personal bank account, District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe said.

Gheisar was the executive director of the senior home at 501 King Drive for three years and he began diverting payments on Oct. 8, 2024, and continued through Oct. 30, 2025, Wagstaffe says.

He took 11 payments to cover his rent and other expenses. Gheisar also told investigators he felt he was not being paid enough for his work, Wagstaffe said.

Two families noticed that their payments were not recorded and reported the issue to a company representative, Wagstaffe said. An audit was conducted, and Gheisar admitted taking the money and cooperated with the investigation, the DA said.

Gheisar was arrested at the senior home on Nov. 21, 2025. He pleaded innocent and was released on his own recognizance. He is scheduled to return to court Oct. 23.

Daly City residents will now be able to walk past a potato restaurant instead of a “coming soon” wall at Serramonte Center.

After more than two years of advertising its opening, the Potato Corner is expected to open November 18 in the Daly City mall, but under a new name: Undercover Fries, according to mall spokeswoman Chelsea Careccia.

Undercover Fries could be found inside Serramonte Center, directly outside the Target mall exit and across from Cinnabon and Auntie Anne’s.

The Potato Corner, a Filipino franchise, was originally scheduled to open in summer 2024, but a legal battle over the company’s name delayed the opening.

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The franchise with the “world’s best french fries” brought its unique taste to the U.S. in 2010. As the company grew, investors bought out its business partners, according to its website.

“Investors who bought it decided in 2024 to work against us rather than alongside us,” the company said in a statement. “So all of this is now in the hands of judges and courts. While waiting for a decision, we’ve been forced to change our name and go…undercover.”

While the name is temporarily different, the taste of the food will not change, the company said.

The restaurant will offer seasoned fries in flavors including barbecue, cheddar, sour cream and onion and more. Its menu will also include spiral-shaped fries, sweet potato fries, tater tots, chips and chicken.

One of the most well-known youth basketball teams in Pacifica could look quite different this winter, or even cease to exist altogether.

Registration for 2026-2027 St. Peter’s CYO basketball season is on hold as the program evaluates how newly established eligibility requirements will affect its players and families.

The revised rules no longer consider Pacifica residency or attendance at a neighborhood school as factors for determining eligibility, St. Peter’s CYO coach Johnny Harrington said in a statement on Wednesday.

St. Peter’s pastor, Rev. Jerry Foley, and his advisory committee are considering whether to continue with the CYO program if the new requirements would exclude a majority of its current players.

“This season, we already anticipated an increase in registration fees by parish leadership of $25 to offset higher program costs,” Harrington said in a statement Wednesday.

Families whose players do not participate in religious activities at St. Peter’s or hold a Boys and Girls Club membership could face another $50 in costs under the new arrangement.

A Boys and Girls Club membership has an existing $50 annual membership fee.

The potential increase has also raised questions about the program’s future.

If a majority of the players are excluded, Harrington says Foley is “uncomfortable continuing with CYO,” which could mark the end of the basketball program.

The program is currently asking families for feedback to estimate how many players would be affected by the new policy, Harrington said.

The St. Peter-Pacifica Celtics compete in the San Francisco CYO league, with boys and girls teams ranging from third through eighth grade. The teams hold practices and home games at St. Peter’s Parish in Pacifica.

The Catholic Youth Organization (CYO) operates youth sports programs through Catholic parishes and schools.

A woman was arrested after allegedly leading an officer on a high-speed chase and telling police she was Cleopatra, a prosecutor said.

Cristina Valdivia, 25, of San Francisco, was driving at high speed on Highway 1 from Half Moon Bay toward Pacifica when an officer stopped her Saturday morning, District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe said.

Valdivia drove for 6.7 miles, speeding up to 75 mph, before reaching a dead end in a Vallemar cul-de-sac, Wagstaffe said. When the officer approached Valdivia, he noticed white powder around her lips and smelled alcohol, the DA said.

“Officer, I’m Cleopatra. I’m the queen of Egypt,” Valdivia told the deputy, according to Wagstaffe.

Before the officer could ask for her ID, Valdivia asked for help locating Julius Caesar, according to Wagstaffe.

Caesar was a dictator who ruled the Roman Republic through various wars until his assassination in 44 BC. Cleopatra was Queen of the Ptolemaic Kingdom of Egypt during roughly the same period.

As the officer was about to arrest Valdivia, a man jumped out of the passenger seat and said he had tried to make her stop the car. The man told the officer that he wanted Valdivia to let him get out, but she wouldn’t let him, Wagstaffe said.

Valdivia has been charged with fleeing an officer, possession of drugs and kidnapping. She appeared in court on Wednesday and pleaded innocent. Valdivia was released on her own recognizance but was ordered to wear an ankle monitor. Her next court appearance is scheduled for Oct. 1.

A man was arrested in Israel after allegedly fleeing the country following a fatal hit-and-run in South San Francisco, a prosecutor said Monday

Maher Abedelal, 32, of South San Francisco, allegedly was delivering food when he struck and killed Teresa Gonzales, a single mother of two daughters, in 2017, District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe said.

Abedelal was driving in the 200 block of El Camino Real at 12:04 a.m. on Nov. 12, 2017, when he struck Gonzales as she crossed the street, Wagstaffe said. Abedelal pulled over to check his car before fleeing, the DA said.

The next morning, Abedelal texted his boss that he would not be going to work because “his car was bad.” Two weeks later, he fled to Israel, where he had been living for nine years, according to Wagstaffe.

One of Gonzales’ daughters started a GoFundMe campaign after the accident, raising $12,150.

“She was a firecracker and was so full of life, she was a friend to all and has the sweetest, most gentle soul,” Andy Marie Gonzales wrote. “If any of you knew my mom, then you know she was the most selfless, loyal and giving person. If you needed anything, she would be there in a heartbeat. This tragedy is heartbreaking in more ways than I can explain and my family will never be the same.”

Abedelal was arrested earlier this year and is in jail on $2 million bail. He is scheduled to be in court on Sept. 12.

A Daly City man has been arrested for human trafficking his girlfriend, a prosecutor said Friday.

Jasiah James Hollowaytambunting, 25, forced his girlfriend to prostitute herself in Daly City, Oakland and Southern California, Chief Deputy District Attorney Shin-Mee Chang said.

Hollowaytambunting was arrested Wednesday after his girlfriend called 911, according to Chang. Bystanders separated the two after hearing her yell.

Hollowaytambunting pulled her while yelling, “B**** get into the car,” according to the DA. The location of the call is unknown.

Hollowaytambunting had dated the victim for six months when he obligated her into prostitution, keeping all the earnings for himself, Chang said.

During their relationship, Hollowaytambunting would beat her and control her by withholding her ID and cards, according to Chang. The victim tried to leave, but he wouldn’t let her because he was afraid she wouldn’t return.

Hollowaytambunting remains in custody on $100,000 bail and will be in court on August 26.

A San Francisco-based athletic club decided to go back to the drawing board after residents pushed back on proposed plans to renovate Westlake Park in Daly City.

The Olympic Club proposed to the Daly City Council in June to renovate the Westlake Park field, add a clubhouse and rebuild the Doelger Senior Center. The club started community outreach and had a scheduled meeting for Thursday. After hearing residents’ concerns, the club sent a letter to council on Wednesday saying it would pause its plans to “sharpen” its proposal.

“This decision reflects our desire to proceed respectfully and transparently. We believe that pausing to listen and to refine our proposal will result in a stronger, more constructive presentation when we return to the city and the community,” the letter said.

The club planned to replace the field’s grass with artificial turf and add lines for baseball, softball, rugby, soccer, lacrosse and field hockey, Nick Lusson, the club’s athletic director, said June 22. It also proposed adding new scoreboards, lighting, fencing and additional seating.

The renovations would limit when residents could use the field. The club would use the field for up to 30 hours per week, including Tuesdays and Thursdays from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m., Wednesdays from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. and all day Saturday, Lusson said.

Existing events that take place on the field, such as Junior Giants, will be prioritized, he said.

Lusson said the club planned to repave the tennis courts and convert two of them into courts that could be used for both tennis and pickleball. The proposal also called for removing several parking spaces to add four new pickleball courts reserved for club members.

The planned clubhouse, which would include locker rooms, a social space, restrooms and offices, would be accessible only to club members, Lusson said.

“We didn’t want to be the 800-pound gorilla of sports that comes in and takes a field away from a smaller local community group,” Lusson said June 22.

If the club replaces the grass with artificial turf, dogs would not be allowed on the field, Lusson said. Dog owners would instead be redirected to a small area that has not yet been determined, he said.

The club proposed a 15-year term with three five-year extensions, under which the city would receive $50,000 annually, Lusson said. The city would not have to pay a dime for the project or maintenance, he said.

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Although the club canceled its Thursday meeting, more than 30 residents still met at Pacelli Event Center to voice opposition to the proposal. Councilwomen Teresa Proaño and Pamela DiGiovanni attended the meeting and voiced their opposition.

Proaño said she opposes the proposal and will represent the people who elected her.

“I think it’s very important that we maintain public use at the park. This is a bad deal for Daly City citizens. It’s a community resource that needs to stay for the community,” resident Tatum King said.

Residents should have access to all the park’s amenities, King said. Adding a clubhouse or exclusive pickleball courts would go against that, he said. Daly City already does not have enough parks, he said.

King compared the renovations to the one Marchbank Park underwent.

Daly City residents have limited access to Marchbank Park under a partnership between the city and Sacred Heart Cathedral Preparatory, a San Francisco Catholic high school. The school funded the field renovation and has reserved use of the field for three hours every day after school, some Saturdays and during the summer for some sports camps. The field remains available for public use outside those reserved times, according to the city.

Resident Andrew Sielen said Westlake Park is important to him because he takes his two children there three days a week, but he also travels to other cities because Daly City doesn’t have that many public parks.

“We are at a massive deficit here,” Sielen said. “I’ve never seen such a low amount of parks for people.”

Daly City has 23 parks, five open spaces and 36 playgrounds, according to the city. The city lists its population as 102,593 residents, making it the largest city in San Mateo County, according to its website.

The club did not respond to the Peninsula Buzz’s request for comment on when it plans to resubmit new plans.

Council agreed to have negotiations with the athletic club last year, allowing it to discuss improvement plans for the park. The club has been seeking a place to host its field sports for over 100 years and restarted its search for a location two years ago, Lusson said.

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A South San Francisco man was sentenced Wednesday to three years in prison for sexually assaulting his girlfriend’s friend, a prosecutor said.

Ismael Rigoberto Recinos Vasquez, 23, was sentenced after a jury found him guilty of raping his girlfriend’s friend at the South San Francisco BART station, said District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe.

Recinos Vasquez met with a 17-year-old girl on Dec. 9, 2021, and gave her alcohol and marijuana, leaving her intoxicated, Wagstaffe said. They were both drinking at the BART station until the girl vomited and passed out, according to Wagstaffe. The next morning, the girl woke up and remembered nothing, the DA said.

Recinos Vasquez’s girlfriend asked him what happened with her friend, and he said they had sex, Wagstaffe said. Days later, the girlfriend told the assistant principal at El Camino High School what had happened. The assistant principal then notified police, according to Wagstaffe.

BART police detectives then reviewed surveillance video that showed Recinos Vasquez with the girl, who was unable to stand up and had passed out, in the elevator. The footage showed Recinos Vasquez moving her body and having sex with her, the DA said. The girl repeatedly vomited while Recinos Vasquez assaulted her multiple times, Wagstaffe said.

Recinos Vasquez took her out of the elevator and continued to have sex with her and eventually left the BART station with her, according to Wagstaffe.

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Daly City residents won’t have to drive as far to get a taste of Brazilian steak or over 30 cheesecake flavors, as several food chain restaurants are proposing to open at Serramonte Center.

Six new food spots are set to open in Serramonte Center next year, according to the mall spokeswoman Chelsea Careccia. The Cheesecake Factory, Fogo de Chao, Koi Palace, Haidilao, Marugame Udon and Kin No Katsu are in the works, Careccia said.

Haidilao, a Chinese hot pot restaurant chain, is set to open early next year, she said.

The Cheesecake Factory is planning to open this winter in the former Buffalo Wild Wings space, according to the restaurant spokeswoman Alethea Rowe.

“We have been looking for a site in the area for years, and we think the Serramonte Center will be a wonderful location for us,” Rowe said.

The closest Cheesecake Factory location to Daly City residents is in San Francisco at 251 Geary St. and in San Mateo in the Hillsdale Shopping Center. Other Bay Area locations where the popular chain can be found are in San Jose, Santa Clara, Corte Madera, Walnut Creek and Pleasanton.

Fogo de Chão, Haidilao, Koi Palace, Marugame Undo and Kin No Katsu are expected to open by the end of next year, according to Careccia.

Fogo de Chão, a Brazilian steakhouse, will open its third location in the Bay Area at Serramonte Center. Other locations where the steakhouse can be found are in San Francisco and Emeryville.

Haidilao and Koi Palace, both Chinese restaurants, will also be opening their third location in the Bay Area at the Daly City mall. Haidilao already has locations in Fremont and Cupertino. Koi Palace can also be found in Daly City at 365 Gellert Blvd and in San Francisco.

Marugame Udon, a Japanese restaurant known for its udon dishes, has many locations, such as in San Francisco, Berkeley and Palo Alto.

Kin No Katsu will be opening its first location in the Bay Area.

Serramonte Center has been expanding its retail and eateries after the opening of Jagalchi, a 75,000-square-foot Korean supermarket. Following the opening of the supermarket, Tokyo Beauty, SanFroyo and Onigilly have become some of the newest stores in the mall.

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