Sideshows on the Peninsula and within the South Bay sparked large police deployments, and there have been reports of unruly crowds allegedly throwing objects at passing cars and, in a single case, trampling on and smashing a patrol automotive.
In San Jose, officers were called to Winchester Boulevard on the west side of Santana Row shortly before 7 p.m. Saturday after a spectator was allegedly struck by a vehicle participating in a sideshow, in response to police and witness video.
A press release released Sunday by Paul Joseph, deputy chief of the San Jose Police Department, said a reserve police officer was attempting to succeed in the injured person when “his patrol car was overrun by bystanders who prevented him from rendering aid.”
The witness video that circulating on social mediashows several people punching and kicking the SUV because it backed away from the scene. A person wearing a ski mask jumped onto the hood of the vehicle and stomped and kicked the windshield.
Joseph said investigators are working to discover the individuals who attacked the vehicle that left the officer with minor injuries. No arrests were made immediately, partly because the gang dispersed before more officers arrived.
“This behavior is unacceptable and will not be tolerated in our city,” Joseph said. “Rest assured that we will make every effort to identify and arrest everyone involved.”
In San Mateo County, the presence of tons of of spectators prompted a response by the sheriff's office, in addition to the California Highway Patrol and Redwood City police, to the intersection of Woodside Road and Alameda de las Pulgas, near Woodside High School within the unincorporated community of Redwood City.
Participants and spectators began to go away the realm as crowds of law enforcement officers arrived around 3:30 p.m. Two men who were unlucky enough to draw the eye of sheriff's officers were chased to an Arco gas station on the corner of Woodside Road and Santa Clara Avenue.
One of the boys attempted to cover by moving into a gas station attendant's vehicle, but was caught and arrested together with the second man. The sheriff's office identified them as 23 and 22 years old and from San Francisco. They were taken to jail on suspicion of resisting arrest.
Anyone with information concerning the San Mateo County sideshow can contact Sheriff Sergeant Doug Richardson at drichardson@smcgov.org or 650-363-4911. Tips may be submitted anonymously to the sheriff's office at 800-547-2700.
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