For Immediate Release: May 6, 2022
OPD News
Illegal Sideshow activity across the Bay Area had Oakland Police Department (OPD) Officers working into the early morning hours on Friday. OPD Helicopter (ARGUS) was overhead when hundreds of vehicles drove along Interstate 580 Thursday night. Once the caravan arrived in Oakland, there were upwards of 350 vehicles.
Around 8:30 p.m., sideshow participants unsuccessfully attempted to take over intersections along Telegraph Avenue. The group relocated near the intersection of 20th Street and Broadway, where some in the crowd threw fireworks and bottles at OPD officers.
Sideshow participants then drove to the intersection of 29th Avenue and International Boulevard, where they took over the intersection. A short time later, OPD officers were able to contain the participants and towed their vehicles. In all OPD was able to tow 60 vehicles, write 17 citations, make two arrests, and recover a firearm.
This weekend, officers dedicated to illegal sideshow activity will be accompanied by our regional law enforcement partners to deter and take enforcement actions.
Violent, disruptive, and illegal behavior will not be tolerated in the City of Oakland. Our investigators will be working to identify those responsible for committing crimes and participating in illegal sideshow activity.
Historically, illegal sideshow activity has led to serious injury, and/or death, of both spectators and participants. The City of Oakland continues to work to find long-term solutions to illegal Sideshows. If you have information about illegal Sideshows, you can send OPD a tip at our non-emergency email, sideshowtips@oaklandca.gov, or call (510) 777-3333.