San Jose police announce arrests after months of investigation – The Mercury News

SAN JOSE — Authorities announced a major crackdown on sideshows Thursday, saying they used the city’s so-called “promoter ordinance” to arrest seven people responsible for advertising and promoting more than 20 unauthorized street events.

At a press conference Thursday afternoon, San Jose police announced the arrest of seven suspects who allegedly organized and promoted 22 shows in the South Bay city as part of a group called “The Hockey Crew.”

CONNECTED: San Jose authorities announce more arrests during sideshow infamous for attack on police car

According to a city press release, the suspects were charged in December with conspiracy to violate the promoter ordinance; one person was also suspected of being involved in a theft that occurred at the sideshow.

Of the seven men arrested, five are from San Jose and two are from Oakland. Police said they also have outstanding arrest warrants for two other suspects: a Sunnyvale man and a Salinas man.

“San Jose is truly a model and a leader in how communities can respond to the sideshow epidemic,” said San Jose Police Chief Paul Joseph. “Our message today is clear. In San Jose, it is illegal to watch sideshows, it is illegal to participate in them, and it is illegal to advertise such shows. If you do this, we will find you, take your car and send you to jail.”

Joseph said this is the city’s largest law and order effort to date under laws passed in 2020 and 2021 that have resulted in a crackdown on sideshow activities. The chief cited ordinances that prohibit “observing, encouraging, inciting, aiding, aiding or aiding and abetting” those who organize sideshows and reckless driving in San Jose.

Operation Penalty, as the bust was called, lasted 28 months and included at least 23 major shows promoted by the hockey team, police said. Joseph said the group’s average performances attract at least a dozen vehicles and hundreds of people, which can bring traffic to a standstill at seven or eight intersections for hours.

According to Joseph, the problem for law enforcement in this investigation arose from the careful planning of the sideshow organizers; only a few people will share details about events in a decentralized manner, making it difficult for authorities to know about them in advance.

Joseph said that during the investigation, police noted eight incidents of police vehicles being attacked by sideshow participants, including an infamous daylight incident earlier this year that was captured on video. Investigators also found and seized dozens of firearms fired during the sideshow and counted numerous incidents of police lasers on the ground and in helicopters, six pedestrians struck by reckless drivers and two officers struck by sideshow participants’ vehicles.

San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan thanked police for their efforts during the investigation and warned people who may attend or participate in the sideshows that they risk losing their cars, paying fines or even going to jail. He also stressed the need to follow traffic rules ahead of Halloween on Thursday and into the weekend, advising drivers to be careful of potential people walking around.

“We may not catch you the night you attend, promote or participate in a sideshow, maybe not the next day or the next week, but you will get caught. You will be held accountable,” Mahan said. “Don’t condemn your future self for the mistakes you made today.”

Santa Clara County Chief Assistant District Attorney Jay Boyarsky said some of the suspects were charged Wednesday and will face more charges in the future.