San Francisco

‘2 Guns Pointed at You': BART Rider Fakes Seizure Upon Being Handed Menacing Note

An Oakland woman on Friday pretended to have a seizure after someone approached her on a BART train and handed her a threatening note, attempting to rob her.

Julie Dragland said she boarded a train in Daly City and was heading home to Dublin when a person in dark clothing climbed onto the train in downtown San Francisco and thrust a note at her.

It read: “There are 2 guns pointed at you now. If you want to live hand back your wallet + phone NOW + do not turn around and be descreet. Do not turn around until after you have left Civic Center + you will live.”

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Julie Dragland
Julie Dragland was riding a BART train when a suspect handed her a threatening note. (Sept. 16, 2017)

Dragland immediately faked a seizure. In response, the alleged suspect disembarked at the Powell Street BART station.

The victim said she was shaken up and will no longer sit on a BART seat with its back to other chairs behind it. Dragland, however, won’t let the frightening encounter stop her from riding BART trains altogether.

Dragland doesn’t plan to press charges if the suspect is caught.

BART is investigating the alleged crime and poring over surveillance footage. Although there were roughly 15 people in the BART train car, no one else reported the incident, police say.

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