Street 'sideshow' results in injury, responding officer's vehicle mobbed and smashed

SAN JOSE, CA - An "unruly" mob from a street exhibition or "sideshow" made national headlines over the weekend when they violently reacted to law enforcement attempting to assist an injured spectator by attacking a police cruiser, stomping, smashing and heavily damaging the vehicle. One suspect, Aidan Rheault, 24, was later arrested for hitting the spectator.

San Jose acting Chief of Police Paul Joseph explained the incident in a statement posted to X, "To see one of our officers attacked by an out-of-control mob while in the process of trying to help a seriously injured person is truly deplorable!"
 

Video on social media shows some at sideshow stomping on @SanJosePD cruiser as reserve officer tried to help spectator hit by sideshow car. “This conduct is unacceptable,”says @SJPD_AC_Joseph. “To see one of our officers attacked by an out of control mob.. is truly deplorable!” pic.twitter.com/CBENwWjrSM

— Henry K. Lee (@henrykleeKTVU) June 16, 2024

In the statement posted to X, Joseph said that at approximately 6:55 p.m., authorities received several reports of "sideshows" all over the city. At one such scene in West San Jose, a reckless vehicle hit a spectator injuring them. A reserve officer responded to assist the victim when his patrol car "was overrun by spectators who prevented him from providing aid to the injured spectator." 
 

Yesterday, around 6:55 PM, dispatch received multiple reports of sideshow activity throughout the city. One of those sideshow events occurred in a populated area of west San Jose, where a spectator was struck by a reckless sideshow vehicle. A reserve officer working in the area… pic.twitter.com/z8gZg0YE4R

— San Jose Police Dept (@SanJosePD) June 16, 2024

Joseph told reporters that the SJPD vehicle was "severely damaged" and that the reserve officer sustained minor injuries attempting to aid the injured spectator. The violent mob later dispersed before backup units could arrive.

He wrote, "This conduct is unacceptable and will not be tolerated in our city. Detectives and Crime Analysts from our Real Time Intelligence Center are actively following up to identify all those responsible." Joseph told KTVU that those arrested will be "prosecuted to the fullest extent the law allows."

In a post late Monday, SJPD announced the arrest of Rheault on charges of felony hit and run and felony reckless driving, less than 48 hours after the incident.
 

Yesterday, SJPD made it clear that we will expend every effort to arrest those involved in Saturday's sideshow. In less than 48 hours, SJPD has already identified and arrested 24 year old Aidan Rheault as the person responsible for striking a spectator with his vehicle while… pic.twitter.com/9Kms4QSFUF

— San Jose Police Dept (@SanJosePD) June 17, 2024

The department added, "Detectives continue to work diligently to identify the other suspects involved in the assault of our Officer and callous vandalism of our patrol vehicle. Our message is loud and clear – these dangerous sideshows have no place in our city and we will continue to expend every effort until all those responsible are held accountable."

 According to reports the status of the injured spectator is unknown at this time.