San Francisco Police Make No Arrests As Wild Sideshows Sweep Across City
SAN FRANCISCO (CBS SF) -- At least four sideshows erupted on San Francisco streets early Sunday morning, drawing dozens of cheering, cellphone recording onlookers and screeching cars to locations spread across the city.
According to a statement issued Sunday morning by the San Francisco police, a group of vehicles first gathered in the area previously occupied by Candlestick Park then proceeded across the city to several sideshow locations.
Each sideshow involved from 50 to 100 vehicles plus "numerous" bystanders and spectators, the police statement said.
"This type of activity presents a danger to the community, first responders, spectators and participants. We will be working to determine the identity of the persons and vehicles participating in the sideshows and will use all available legal resources to prosecute those involved," the statement continued.
Police confirmed that sideshows were staged in the Mission District at 23rd and Dolores streets, on Geary Blvd. at 30th Ave., at the intersection of Market and Clayton, and at Loomis St. and Barneveld Ave.
Sideshow raw video from Market St. at Clayton
No citations, arrests, injuries or collisions were reported, according to the SFPD.
An exasperated Richmond District resident named Veronica took to social media, saying she called police but was told by dispatch there were not enough officers available to respond.
Sideshow raw video from Geary Blvd at 30th Ave
She was responding to a sideshow on Geary Blvd. at 30th Ave. early Sunday morning that had awakened residents in the Richmond District neighborhood. Dozens of onlookers gathered on the street, many taking cellphone video of the spinning cars.
Eventually, San Francisco police did respond, scattering participants and onlookers from the scene.
Sideshow raw video from Dolores St. in Mission Dist.
Dozens of onlookers gathered, cheering and shooting cellphone video. Traffic on Mission Street was blocked, backing up cars for several blocks.
Using body-worn cameras and social media, police say they will be working to identify and prosecute participants in the sideshows and ask anyone with information to call the SFPD.
