Watch CBS News

San Mateo Man Arrested for Firing Flare Gun at Police Headquarters

SAN MATEO (CBS SF) -- A 44-year-old man who allegedly filmed himself shooting a flare gun over San Mateo police headquarters and sent it to government agencies last month was arrested Tuesday night after allegedly shooting a flare gun at a passing police patrol car.

The video can be seen here.

Yasuhito Oshima, a San Mateo resident, was arrested after an officer was driving on South Delaware Street near Cypress Avenue around 9 p.m. Tuesday when he heard and saw "a bright red burning object speed by his vehicle's windshield," San Mateo police said in a news release.

The officer got out of his vehicle and found someone sitting at a bench at a bus stop. The person, later identified as Oshima, had a flare gun lying on the ground and placed it in his pocket after noticing the officer, according to police.

Oshima was arrested and a search discovered the flare gun in his jacket pocket as well as the charred remains of a flare nearby. He was booked into San Mateo County Jail on suspicion of discharging a firearm with gross negligence, shooting into an occupied vehicle, and assault on a peace officer with a firearm, police said.

Investigators also identified Oshima as the person who sent an email on Jan. 27 to multiple San Mateo County departments that showed someone discharging a flare gun over a building. San Mateo police determined the building was their headquarters on Franklin Parkway and that the email was associated with Oshima.

A subsequent search of Oshima's home following his arrest led to the discovery of a Taser stun gun, a mace pepper gun and an empty flare cartridge, according to police.

© Copyright 2021 CBS Broadcasting Inc. and Bay City News Service. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

 

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.