'This will not be tolerated'; Antioch mayor announces sideshow crackdown

ANTIOCH (CBS SF) --  Two suspects were in custody after being tracked to Sacramento County following an illegal Antioch weekend sideshow that erupted in violence with spectators attacking a patrol car.

On Monday, Mayor Lamar Thorpe confirmed there were two sideshows over the weekend after he declared the city a "No Sideshow Zone" last year. 

A city spokesman said police responded to a sideshow around 10 p.m. at Lone Tree Way and Bluerock Drive. A second sideshow followed at East 18th and A streets.

Authorities said two suspects were pursued by California Highway Patrol and finally arrested in Sacramento County. They were transported back to Martinez where they were booked into county jail on suspicion of reckless evading police and assault with a deadly weapon upon a peace officer.

Police said one officer was assaulted and a patrol car was vandalized. Multiple police vehicles were damaged from both sideshows. 

At  Monday's press conference, Thorpe and Police Chief Tony Morefield announced new steps to try and stop any future sideshows in the city.    

"Don't come to Antioch because we'll be waiting for you with the full force of the Antioch Police Department," said Thorpe.

Up until Saturday night, Thorpe said there had not been any attempts to perform sideshows and they were able to prevent some before they ever happened. He added that another sideshow was stopped before it could take place early Monday morning.

"You know this is their parents' fault," he told KPIX 5 Monday afternoon. "They impact everybody's quality of life."

KPIX 5 spoke to the mayor again hours after his news conference and he became frustrated by how many cars would drive by and purposely try to interrupt the interview.

"At some point, people have to be responsible for their own children. I can't go around babysitting everybody," he replied after several cars made noise and sped by him.

He spoke Monday at the site of one of the two locations for the sideshow, East 18th and A Streets. The other sideshow took place at Lone Tree Way & Bluerock Drive. Thorpe said the penalty for participating in a sideshow will be a $3,000 fine for the owner of the car involved, as well as impounding that vehicle for 30 days. 

He also said the city council will consider a measure to arrest spectators and send them to jail for six months. They would also face a $1,000 fine.

On Sunday, an irate Thorpe posted video of the attack on the police patrol car on his Facebook page and didn't mince words.

"There were two arrests made, several citations and fines issued," Thorpe posted. "Unfortunately, a patrol car that was being occupied by an officer was damaged by bystanders who threw bottles and other objects at the car. This will not be tolerated."

"There is an investigation that is moving beyond just those arrested and those individuals will be held accountable."

Neighbors near one of two sideshows over the weekend say the danger they face each day outside their homes will lead to someone getting hurt soon unless city leaders and police do more to stop drivers from speeding all over the city including their side streets.

"Saturday night I saw a bunch of people out there spinning donuts. Just driving recklessly. I witnessed the attack on the police vehicle, that's just disrespectable. " said Tony Hagler, a homeowner who moved to Antioch less than a year ago. "These people have no regard for safety. They have no self-respect at that."

Hagler says he wants to see more police patrolling streets near his home, especially since he lives a few blocks away from a school. He also hopes there are more severe punishments. 

"You can't really enjoy your house no more 'cause you can't hardly go outside," said Winford Ruggs, a longtime resident who has lived in the city for more than 20 years. "One of these days they're going to lose control of their car and they might kill somebody."

Ruggs would like to see speed bumps on the street outside his house. The mayor said his traffic team is growing and neighbors should see patrols on busy stretches of the city like A Street. 

Neighbors say they have to watch out for each other with so many children and teens walking on the same street as these drivers. They welcome any additional steps police and city leaders can take to reduce that activity outside their homes.

"Just think about what damage a car can do to a human body going 90 miles per hour. It's going to be fatal," Hagley said. "These people driving out here like they lost their mind. I'm not going to tolerate it."