San Jose police are searching for the people behind a dangerous illegal show Saturday night near Santana Row that left a spectator and a police officer injured.
Authorities and many members of the community describe this incident as “unacceptable.”
A video widely shared on social media shows what appears to be a number of people wearing masks jumping and punching a San Jose police cruiser.
Police received reports of an illegal car show just outside the Santana Row shopping center, where someone watching the show was hit by a vehicle involved, just before 7:00 p.m.
A reserve officer went to help an injured person but couldn’t because his patrol car was overrun with onlookers.
The patrol car was severely damaged and the officer suffered minor injuries, police said.
“The people involved in this are looking at a number of very serious charges, including felony vandalism, felony assault on a police officer and other potential charges, including delaying officers in the performance of their duties,” said Steven Clark, a legal analyst and former prosecutor.
Clark said he believes San Jose police will take this case very seriously and will try to identify not only the people who damaged the car, but also those who incited them.
Acting San Jose Police Chief Paul Joseph said he will “personally work with the district attorney to ensure that, once arrested, these suspects are prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
People who work at nearby restaurants said the spectacle occurred at the intersection of Olin Avenue and Winchester Boulevard during the daytime and peak dinner hours.
“I just walked out and saw a lot of smoke and a lot of people everywhere, and people swerving their cars,” said Cooper Murdock, who works nearby.
People at the mall said they were surprised to see this happen in broad daylight, when there were many families and pedestrians around.
“It’s really unfortunate and frustrating for someone like me who likes to walk a lot and doesn’t feel comfortable knowing that these kinds of things start happening even during the day,” said Amanda Rawson, who was getting her nails done at the center. commercial.
If you have information about what happened, contact the San José police.
