SF robber dies after parking officer tackles him

(09-30) 12:07 PDT SAN FRANCISCO -- A San Francisco parking control officer tackled a man who was violently robbing a woman in the Western Addition last week, causing a fatal head injury to the alleged thief, authorities said.

According to city officials, the parking officer intervened when he saw Nelson Tzabek, 28, attacking a 58-year-old woman at 12:35 p.m. Thursday near Laguna and Turk streets, punching and kicking her during a robbery attempt.

"From early accounts it appears that he was trying to come to the aid of a robbery victim," said San Francisco Police Officer Gordon Shyy of the parking officer, who has not been identified.

Both Tzabek and the alleged robbery victim were taken to San Francisco General Hospital. Tzabek was pronounced dead at 11 p.m. Thursday, said the city medical examiner's office. The case is under investigation.