Hundreds detained, dozens arrested at Oakland sideshow
OAKLAND, Calif. -- A huge sideshow, with hundreds of people participating in an illegal display of stunt driving, was busted in Oakland late Wednesday night. It was all caught by Sky7 HD, just as Oakland police and the California Highway Patrol were staged a few blocks away monitoring a demonstration in the downtown area.
On Thursday, remnants of the sideshow were still visible. Ash and parts of a car that went up in flames remained near the curb.
The CHP says they had information beforehand that a big sideshow was going to take place at the same time Ferguson demonstrators planned to march through the city.
The action was caught clearly by our helicopter just after 10:30 p.m. Two red cars did donuts in the middle of the road at the Port of Oakland, with hundreds of spectators standing just a few feet of the skidding cars.
CHP confirmed to ABC7 News that one of the cars hit a bystander. That's when dozens of CHP patrol cars with lights flashing swarmed in and started making arrests. Police said everyone they caught will be charged.
CHP Officer Sean Wilkenfeld said the charges could, "be anywhere from aiding and abetting, all the way to participating in a speed contest, to suspended license, driving without a license - the charges are wide ranging, but they usually will include aiding and abetting, or participating in a sideshow."
One car, apparently trying to escape, burst into flames.
"We were able to use our training, in this instance, to block everyone in and prevent all the escape routes," said Wilkenfeld. "We actually did lose a few people, some people were able to get out, but we blocked a majority."
As police surrounded the sideshow, a red van appeared to try to make a run for it by smashing through a chain link fence. As the occupants got out of the van, they included a child in a stroller.
The CHP says there were also gunshots fired from the crowd, but no one was hurt.
Police said they blocked more than 100 cars and each of the cars had at least one person inside. Officers made over 30 arrests for crimes during the illegal event that they say placed hundreds in danger.
Another smaller sideshow event was posted on YouTube. That one took place near High Street Wednesday night in Oakland.
"I'm thinking there's too much going on, for one," said Oakland community and youth activist Todd Walker.
Walker sees the sideshow activity as a dangerous distraction for a city that needs to focus its energies elsewhere.
"For half the police force to be blocking off some people that's driving in cars, when other people are burning up the city, that bothers me more," he said.
The CHP reports its officers confiscated multiple guns, cited dozens of cars, and detained a number of people for a variety of offenses. Investigators are expected to release more specific information on Friday.
PHOTOS: Hundreds of cars detained after sideshow at Port of Oakland
