A sideshow that roved across San Francisco on Sunday ended in the seizure of an illegal assault rifle and two arrests, the San Francisco Police Department announced.
Ingleside Station Capt. Gerry Newbeck said at Tuesday's community relations meeting that the sideshow started in the Mission District, moved to the Excelsior/Outer Mission, followed by Lakeside, the Richmond and back to the Mission District. He said he anticipates many participating vehicles will be seized in the coming weeks.
The sideshow moved to Junipero Serra Boulevard and Winston Drive around 8:45 p.m. When Taraval Station police officers drove to the scene, spectators surrounded the squad car and threw items, damaging the vehicle, according to the police blotter.
Later, the show moved to Clement Street and 32nd Avenue. The police department's Stunt Driving Response Unit responded to the area and began to clear vehicles and pedestrians from the danger while collecting evidence.
Officers stopped a vehicle used in the show that was wanted by the Oakland Police Department, detained its four occupants and discovered an illegal assault rifle, multiple magazines, including an extended one, along with ammunition.
Officers arrested 22-year-old Albert Martinez Zavala of Vacaville for firearm violations, and he was booked into San Francisco County Jail.
A California Highway Patrol helicopter identified a participating vehicle parked on California Street. Officers detained the occupants and arrested 22-year-old Francisco Javier Mercado of Modesto, who was booked into jail for an outstanding out-of-county warrant and for reckless endangerment. Officers towed the vehicle.
Jerold Chinn
“These results speak volumes about the effectiveness of our citywide collaboration and your commitment to keeping San Francisco safe,” Richmond Station Capt. Kevin Lee said in a statement. “Thanks to the swift actions and teamwork of our Stunt Driving Response Unit and Richmond Station officers the SFPD was able to take illegal weapons off our streets and hold suspects accountable.”
The SFPD Stunt Driving Response Unit and Crime Gun Investigations Center continue to investigate the sideshow.
The SFPD asks anyone with information to call 415-575-4444 or text a tip to TIP411 and begin the message with SFPD.
