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CHP Questions 200 People, Seizes Weapons During Massive Oakland Sideshow

OAKLAND (CBS SF) -- About 200 people were at the scene of a large sideshow in Oakland Wednesday night, which resulted in multiple firearm seizures and citations, the California Highway Patrol announced Thursday.

Officers patrolling in the city received reports of a sideshow in the area of Seventh and Maritime streets near the Port of Oakland, CHP officials said.

A CHP helicopter and fixed-wing airplane responded to the area and found more than 150 cars blocking the roadway.

Many people were driving recklessly and performing dangerous sideshow stunts, CHP officials said.

Responding officers created a blockade at the port's entrances and made contact with multiple people in the cars, according to the CHP.

Officers were notified of shots fired from within the crowd that was spotted by a crew on CHP aircraft, officials said.

The aircraft also spotted a driver attempting to flee officers in a van but rammed into a perimeter fence and traveled over railroad tracks, CHP officials said.

Officers were able to interview more than 200 people at the sideshow and cited and released several people, according to the CHP.

An investigation into the sideshow is ongoing.

Officials from the CHP's Golden Gate Division and Oakland area will hold a news conference Friday morning at the agency's Oakland area office to provide more details on the sideshow.

Prior to the sideshow, officers were patrolling freeway on- and off-ramps for protesters against decision by a grand jury announced Monday to not indict police Officer Darren Wilson in the shooting death of 18-year-old Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri.

There have been demonstrations Monday through Wednesday nights in Oakland that have turned violent since the announcement.

On Monday and Tuesday nights, protesters blocked portions of the freeway, which is "a dangerous place for pedestrians, and no place to stage a demonstration. The lives of protesters as well as those driving on the freeway are put at risk," CHP officials said in a statement.

A CHP special response team also gave mutual aid to Oakland police when protests became violent on Wednesday.

Authorities Question 200 People, Seize Weapons During Massive Oakland Sideshow

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