Crime & Safety

Two Arrested During Undercover Aggressive Panhandling Operation

The operation was a response to complaints from merchants and business patrons.

Police in South San Francisco said Friday that they took a hard-line approach when it came to aggressive panhandlers in the city's downtown area.

After receiving a several complaints from merchants and patrons of local businesses regarding aggressive panhandlers in the downtown area, police said officers conducted an undercover operation in an attempt to identity the source of the complaints.

According to a news release, police said they took a "zero tolerance approach" when conducting the operation and that they planned to take "appropriate enforcement action" to deter panhandlers from loitering in the commercial corridor.

Find out what's happening in South San Franciscowith free, real-time updates from Patch.

During the operation, undercover officers were aggressively solicited by two separate panhandlers, who were subsequently arrested, police said.

Officers arrested Steve Khoury, 50, and Otis Campbell, 57. Both men are unemployed South San Francisco residents, police said. They were cited for panhandling and were released.

Find out what's happening in South San Franciscowith free, real-time updates from Patch.

-Bay City News


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