The man suspected of mowing people down during a hit-and-run spree in August 2006 , Omeed Aziz Popal, 30, pleaded not guilty today in San Francisco Superior Court. Really. For those of you who don't remember, Popal allegedly went after 16 pedestrians with his SUV during a 15-minute death span on the streets and sidewalks of northern San Francisco. Accused of a whopping 16 counts of attempted murder--including the murder of 54-year-old Stephen Jay......

Oh No, Chris Kavanaugh! Berkeley's own Ed Jew, a Green Party member of the Berkeley rent board who was actually living (and litigating with his landlord) in Oakland, pled not guilty to three charges of voter fraud, one charge of perjury, and one of grand theft (for taking a stipend from the Berkeley rent board) yesterday. Kavanaugh spent Friday night living in the Santa Rita jail before being released on $30,000 bond, and will report......

Remember that bad neighbor dude Bob Bertone in Visitacion Valley who terrorized his neighborhood with loud music, mysterious gunshots, explosions, and lots of junk in his yard? Well, his house caught on fire Wednesday when his water heater ignited a bucket of gasoline that was sitting too close by. The neighbors did a pretty good job of not looking too smirky as they were interviewed. Incidentally, Bertone ran for the Board of Supes in 2000......

Ohmeed Popal, the hit-and-run SUV driver who rampaged through Pacific and Laurel Heights about three months ago, has been deemed sufficiently sane to be tried for 18 counts of attempted murder in San Francisco court. Popal's PD reported that Popal's mental health has markedly improved after they changed his medication. In court, Popal was reported to have smiled and greeted his family as he was brought in. However, Popal did not enter a formal......

--Arrrr. It's Talk Like A Pirate Day. Annoy your boss! --Quick crime updates that didn't make the Blotter -- the second death at the pot brownie coop is probably a drug OD. And Ohmeed Popal's case is on hold as his lawyer continues to investigate his mental condition. --Josh Wolf is heading back to jail. --You won't actually be infringing any copyrights when you watch Warner Music videos on YouTube anymore. Also -- you can......

Ohmeed Popal, the man who ran down 18 pedestrians last week, appeared in court today, dressed in the prison jumpsuit and looking "bewildered" at the proceedings. Popal first pled not guilty to the murder of the Fremont pedestrian who died, but his attorney quickly withdrew that plea pending a psychiatric examination. Popal, who is currently in custody at SF General's psychiatric ward, will return to court on Friday after the examination is completed. It was......

Look how cute these penguins are! In soberer news, we're all still in shock about the Ohmeed Popal SUV incidents on Tuesday. Our condolences go to the family of the man killed in Fremont, we hope for a speedy recovery for everyone who was injured, and we sincerely hope that Popal gets the help he desperately needs. In other news -- Josh Wolf is out of jail; he could probably still make it to Burning......

It's the second day after the hit-and-runs in San Francisco, and the reporters are looking into suspect Ohmeed Popal's life now. Here's what we've got: Ohmeed Popal's parents had apparently been very overprotective of him throughout his life, to protect him from America's "evil society." Popal got in a big argument with his parents starting over the weekend about wanting to go back to Afghanistan by himself to see his wife. He stormed out of......

The police are continuing their investigation of Ohmeed Popal and his deadly series of hit-and-run accidents in Fremont and San Francisco yesterday. Here's the latest: The Chron's put together a chronology of events: it took Popal about an hour to get from Fremont to the city. (Did anyone see him pay a toll on the Bay Bridge?) Popal's attorney was at the police station, but so far has been unable to see his client because......

Up to eleven people have been seriously injured this afternoon by a man driving around town, deliberately running over pedestrians. At least one person is dead. Among other things: this is not going to help our stats for this year's Walk SF numbers at all. The police caught a driver in a black Honda SUV in Laurel Heights, at Laurel and California Streets, where he'd hit two people (one who died). A child was also......