Attackers wield unusual weapons in 3 shocking S.F. attacks

Photo: Stephanie Wright Hession, Special To The Chronicle Victor Ricks allegedly used an aerosol can and a lighter in an...

Amid the typical shootings, stabbings and other serious crimes in San Francisco over the past several days, a handful of assault suspects opted to use some startling weapons when perpetrating their crimes, according to police.

Take the case of 36-year-old Los Angeles woman Victor Ricks. She allegedly used an aerosol can and a lighter in an attempt to burn a 21-year-old man’s face near the Castro Theater on Sunday afternoon, police said.

The victim, who had asked Ricks for a light, was not injured when she came at him just before 1 p.m., police said. Ricks, who was arrested, was apparently fired up from an earlier argument with the man’s friend, police said.

In another bizarre attack earlier that morning, police said three men with a sledgehammer went after a 22-year-old man in the South of Market area. The victim was knocked out cold around 12:30 a.m. at Harrison and Lapu Lapu streets after the trio bashed him in the head, police said.

The victim was taken to San Francisco General Hospital with a head injury that he was expected to survive. No suspects were identified or arrested.

Then, at about 9 p.m. Monday, two men emerged from a green Lexus sedan at Sixth and Mission Streets just south of Market Street, snatched the cane from a 35-year-old man and hit him in the face with it, police said.

The suspects, who haven’t been arrested, fled with the cane and the man’s cell phone. The victim had a cut lip and refused medical attention, police said.

Evan Sernoffsky is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. E-mail: esernoffsky@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @EvanSernoffsky