The first unruliness started . . . - 40 arrested in Oakland sideshow crackdown

40 arrested in sideshow crackdown
Oakland police call first major effort to stop reckless driving a success

By Harry Harris, STAFF WRITER

OAKLAND -- The Oakland Police Department launched its first major crackdown this year on "sideshow" related activities following Sunday's Cinco de Mayo festival.

Calling it a success, police arrested at least 40 people, issued more than 300 citations and towed 75 vehicles.

Police said the enforcement would continue, but declined to give details or a timetable for the next deployment.

"The big message we want to get out is Oakland is no longer the destination for nighttime cruisers," Lt. Dave Kozicki said Monday. "We want them to know that if you swing it (do donuts) or booze, it you will lose it," he said, referring to Oakland's aggressive towing policy.

Kozicki said the operations would continue even with the city's budget problems. Police have grant funds from the state Office of Traffic Safety to pay continuation of the operations.

Sunday's enforcement action, which began about 3 p.m. and lasted until 11 p.m., involved 110 Oakland police officers -- all on overtime -- 20 Alameda County Sheriff's deputies and 14 California Highway Patrol officers.

Kozicki stressed the festival itself was "a very good event" and was relatively trouble-free.

But he said the festival and other celebrations attract sideshow-type problems that occur away from the actual event. He said police responded to sideshow activity as far east as 94th Avenue and on parallel streets such as Foothill Boulevard.

Kozicki said arrests ranged from public intoxication and blocking the roadway to jumping on cars and carrying a gun. The CHP arrested eight suspected drunken drivers.

The 300 citations covered "every manner of vehicle code violations" and the majority who had their cars towed were unlicensed drivers, he said. The average age of those cited was 24, and 40 percent did not live in Oakland.

At least three drivers were arrested and had their cars towed under a new state law that increases penalties for those caught doing donuts and exhibitions of speed.

International Boulevard was closed to traffic between 35th Avenue and High Street so attendees at the festival, which ended at 6 p.m., would not have to dodge cars, police said.

The first unruliness started about 3 p.m. at 50th Avenue and International when some drivers engaged in spinning donuts and exhibition of speed in front of 100 or so cheering observers.

Those such incidents continued for the next several hours as people unsuccessfully tried "to get a large sideshow going," Kozicki he said.

Police deployed officers in a way that prevented it from spreading, and enabled them to arrest violators, he added.

He said there were a few tense moments when police thought they might be facing a large disturbance similar to what happened in the Fruitvale district after the Super Bowl.

"All of the moving parts were there for that kind of problem, but we were quick to make sure they did not jell together into something more serious," Kozicki said.

About 4 p.m. near 51st Avenue and International, members of rival street gangs attempted to square off, prompting a rock and bottle barrage that had police donning riot gear. The situation was defused and Kozicki said "it was unclear if we were the target or if we were in the middle."

Sunday night's planned enforcement effort was in stark contrast to midnight Saturday to 5 a.m. Sunday when 15 officers had to deal with impromptu sideshows that at one point totaled almost 250 cars, authorities said.

The starting point was in Jack London Square and eventually reached as far as 90th Avenue and MacArthur Boulevard as undermanned officers did their best to keep the entourages -- which at one point was 250 vehicles at High Street and Foothill Boulevard -- moving.

About a half-dozen people were arrested, more than five cars towed and at least 50 citations issued, police said.