SAN FRANCISCO—An attempt to shut down an unsanctioned Dolores Park “hill bomb” in San Francisco quickly escalated into vandalism and violence, and the police made a mass arrest on July 8, the San Francisco Police Department (SFPD) said.
According to SFPD Officer Robert Rueca, the incident ended with 32 adults being arrested and booked in county jail; 2 others were cited, and 81 juveniles were taken to the Mission District Police Station before they were cited and released.
“This dangerous and unlawful behavior puts members of the public and our officers at risk of serious injury or worse. This behavior will not be tolerated in our city,” San Francisco Police Chief Bill Scott said in an announcement.
The Dolores Park hill bomb is an event that has been held on and off for years, in which skateboarders plunge down Dolores Street at full speed. The thrill of this sport attracts young people but has also caused property damage, resulted in injuries, and caused one death in the past.
This year, skateboarders started to set off fireworks and vandalize things.
The crowd turned violent after police ordered them to disperse at around 7:15 p.m. The fireworks started fires in Dolores Park, which led to an order to clear the park, the SFPD said.
In the same video, bottles and fireworks were thrown at police officers at the scene.
The final mass arrests were made on 17th Street between Dolores and Guerrero Streets.
Another 2 juveniles were arrested earlier, in another incident around 7:10 p.m. in which a male juvenile spat in the face of a sergeant who was assisting residents at Cumberland and Dolores Streets. When the sergeant moved to detain the male suspect, he was interfered with by a female suspect. The sergeant was assaulted during the incident and suffered lacerations to his face.
“During the arrests, officers located and seized several firearms left at the scene as well as unignited fireworks and narcotics paraphernalia,” Mr. Rueca said.
The San Francisco POA posted on Twitter: “The violence and chaos on our streets had nothing to do with skateboarding. Residents asked for police escorts to their front doors. MUNI trains were stopped and attacked by graffiti vandals. Fireworks, bottles, & smoke bombs were launched indiscriminately in the neighborhood.”
