Newsom Responds To Choir Assault Case

Jan. 11 - KGO (KGO) -- The ABC7 I-Team has new insight into how San Francisco police handled the investigation into a New Year's attack on a Yale University choir. Many are saying it was mishandled. Now the story is getting coverage around the country and the world.

We're doing a running tally -- it's been 10 days and 17 hours since police responded to the attack on the Yale students, and they still haven't interviewed the victims. This case is getting city officials the kind of attention they do not want, around the world.

Since the I-Team broke the story of the New Year's attack on the Yale singing group, The Baker's Dozen, Monday, newspapers across the country have picked it up. Today's New York Post reads, "Yale song birds are pummeled." The story's reached as far away as Canada, Australia and even India where the headline is "A cappella brings out worst in mob." It's a topic on national radio shows and many Web sites including The Drudge Report.

With the pressure building, Mayor Gavin Newsom finally addressed the controversy today.

Mayor Gavin Newsom, San Francisco: "I don't think it's good for the city, to answer your question, obviously it's not. But there's still a lot of questions I have. Why were these kids -- they're all under age -- why were they in a home with a lot of liquor? How'd they get the liquor? What the heck were they doing down there? Why is everyone hiring an attorney? Who's culpable, who's not?"

From comments on the I-Team blog, the incident is changing the image of San Francisco in many people's minds. Several from out of state write they will no longer vacation in the city.

Laurie Armstrong, S.F. Convention & Visitors Bureau: "Well, I'd like to see it go away." (laughs)

That's a concern at the San Francisco Convention & Visitors Bureau.

Laurie Armstrong: "The sooner this is resolved and fades from the headlines, the better it is for San Francisco."

The controversy would have gone away much more quickly had police handled the investigation differently. It all began New Year's Eve with a celebration in honor of The Baker's Dozen. Several young men crashed the party and began taunting the singers from Yale. They were the center of attention, dressed in their trademark khaki pants, blue blazers and ties.

Sharyar Aziz, Yale Student: "It was a lot of 'Get out of here, you don't belong here.' There was some reference to 'This is the 4-1-5.'"

After The Baker's Dozen gathered in a circle at midnight and sang "The Star Spangled Banner," the threats escalated. Nineteen year-old Richard Aicardi called in reinforcements, spotted in a van on surveillance camera. As the Yale singers trickled out of the party, they were surprised by the crowd waiting for them.

Sharyar Aziz: "It was apparent that there was no more threatening and intimidating, but rather they were out to hurt us."

Several young men ganged up on Sharyar Aziz and broke his jaw in two places. He's had reconstructive surgery. His jaw will be wired shut for eight weeks and he'll miss the varsity squash season.

Other members of The Baker's Dozen suffered black eyes, a sprained ankle and a severe concussion.

Outside last night's police commission meeting, Chief Heather Fong would not answer why investigators haven't interviewed the victims yet, especially for the three full days they were in San Francisco, just after the incident.

Heather Fong, SFPD Chief: "I can't answer that because based on the chronology of the situation I'm not prepared to address that at this time."

Fong will eventually have to address the inconsistencies in police reports obtained by the I-Team. At the end of the night, officers on the scene radioed in, "All parties want no police department action, no injuries." Both clearly were not true. Also on the incident report, an officer writes finding "no possible suspects."

But the dispatch sheet shows officers detained four young men, including two of Richard Aicardi's brothers who were identified by members of The Baker's Dozen.

Chief Fong told us she will look into the investigation as well as the attack.

Chief Heather Fong: "We are conducting the criminal investigation and as part of that if there are any concerns about, about department actions, we will be looking at that as well."

Police have dropped their demand that The Baker's Dozen pay their own way pack to San Francisco to be interviewed. Investigators will be heading to Los Angeles to meet with the young men and do a photo lineup tomorrow.

<u>I-TEAM BLOG:</u> Our investigation into the attack on The Baker's Dozen has sparked outrage in San Francisco and across the country. For details on that and to read viewer comments on our report, read our I-Team Blog.

INTERVIEW WITH MAYOR NEWSOM: Watch our complete and unedited interview with Mayor Gavin Newsom here. Also, Dan Noyes blogs about his interview with the mayor. Read the blog here.

MORE ON THIS STORY:

>> Read original report: Yale Choir Assaulted; No Arrests By SFPD (1/8)
>> Read follow up: SFPD Under Fire Over Yale Choir Assault (1/10)
>> Read follow up: 11 Days Later, SFPD Interviews Yale Choir (1/12)
>> Read follow up: Police Present Choir Assault Case To D.A. (1/16)
>> Read follow up: Witness Account Of Attack On Yale Choir (1/17)

Have a tip on this or another investigation? E-mail the ABC7 I-Team or call 1-888-40-I-TEAM.

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