San Francisco police are investigating the death of a 16-year-old girl who collapsed on a Bayview sidewalk Sunday afternoon after determining the teen may have been abused.

Because the circumstances of death were suspicious, SFPD's homicide unit has been placed in charge of the investigation.

Bayview Hunters Point resident Mitchell Collins was one of several witnesses who saw the teen collapse in broad daylight on the sidewalk near Quesada Avenue and Jennings Street.

"She wasn't breathing and the ambulance took her away. [They] tried to revive her," said Collins.

Police told KTVU that based on conditions at the family's home, investigators determined some sort of abuse had taken place.

"There's not enough that I can talk about right now because the investigation is so uncertain, if you will, as to what exactly happened," said San Francisco Police Chief Greg Suhr.

Monday night, San Francisco police confirmed they have arrested the girls' mother – 46-year-old Heidi Heidelberg -- on charges of felony child abuse and neglect.

"They brought the mom out and she was dressed with no pants on and she had her hands cuffed and she was yelling at the top of her voice," said Collins. "And they put her in the police car and took her away."

Heidelberg lived at the home with her two daughters. Neighbors said family outbursts that disturbed the peace were not uncommon.

"The family had issues," said one area resident who declined to give his name.

Investigators are still waiting on the coroner's report to confirm cause of death. The results of that exam will determine whether police continue the homicide investigation.