Despite 150 drivers showing up at the Port of Oakland to drive recklessly and do doughnuts during an illegal "sideshow,' the California Highway Patrol on Friday took no one into physical custody.
At a news conference, CHP Assistant Chief Paul Fontana said about 12 cars were impounded and 23 citations issued, mostly for drivers driving with a suspended license. He added that although at least 200 people were at 7th and Maritime streets about 10:30 p.m. on Wednesday, his office wants to wait to review video taken from news choppers and CHP aircraft to possibly add further charges and arrest more people. CHP investigators will have to review hours of video to work with the Alameda County District Attorney's Office in deciding who can be connected to what crime. It is illegal to drive recklessly and also to "aid and abet" a sideshow, where the road can be blocked with onlookers.
"We want to make sure the appropriate people are charged with the appropriate crimes," CHP Officer Sean Wilkenfeld said. "We didn't take anyone into physical custody."
Alameda County Sheriff's Sgt. JD Nelson, who oversees the jails, agreed that this was likely the right decision. "What are you going to charge them with?" he asked rhetorically. "Just being there?"
Still, the CHP warned that a "sideshow" is extremely dangerous.
"A sideshow can lead to injury and death," CHP Officer Daniel Hill said. Hill added that using video taken at the scene, his office will try to prosecute those eventually arrested and "we'll nail these guys once and for all."
The CHP highlighted a few of the more dangerous situations during the sideshow, which was occurring at the same time hundreds of Ferguson protesters were marching through downtown Oakland on the third consecutive night.
- A driver in a red van with a load of children tried to escape by driving over train tracks. He was cited for vandalism, aiding and abetting and child endangerment.
- A stolen car was set on fire.
- Someone fired shots into the crowd, though no injuries were reported.
- Two handguns and a BB gun were recovered.
Before the sideshow started, an unknown person called NBC Bay Area and apparently other media outlets to report that the cars would be out in force. The person was aware that news helicopters were flying overhead because of the third night of Ferguson protests taking place in Oakland.
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A sideshow is an informal and unsanctioned demonstration of car stunts, often held in vacant lots and sometimes on freeways.
Sideshows were first noted at Oakland's Eastmont Mall parking lot, and were made more popular in the 1990s when songs by rappers such as Richie Rich began singing a "sideshow" anthem to glorify the reckless driving.
NBC Bay Area's Megan Trihey and stringer Allen Weddington contributed to this report.
