Police break up sideshows in San Francisco’s West Portal neighborhood
Photo credit: Kai Wings
SAN FRANCISCO – The infamous illegal auto shows known as Sideshows are moving to some of the quieter neighborhoods of San Francisco. Sideshows took place almost at the same time in the west of the city.
Neighbors say they see more and more of the illegal car shows and the burned-out rubber they leave on the city zebra crossings.
Police disband siding in San Francisco’s West Portal neighborhood
The infamous illegal auto shows known as Sideshows are moving to some of the quieter neighborhoods of San Francisco. Sideshows were held on the west side of the city almost at the same time on early Sunday morning.
Sideshow breaks out in San Francisco
The nightly quiet of San Francisco’s West Portal neighborhood was broken early Sunday morning by the roar of engines and the screeching of tires at the intersection of Ulloa Street and Claremont Boulevard.
The nightly quiet of San Francisco’s West Portal neighborhood was broken early Sunday morning by the roar of engines and the screeching of tires at the intersection of Ulloa Street and Claremont Boulevard. In a video recorded by a neighbor, you can hear her ask, “Sorry, why West Portal? It’s so random.”
A man answers from the camera: “Enjoy the show!”
At one point, you can see several cars burning rubber and someone getting up from a car’s lunar roof and spinning donuts. The sideshow started after midnight and lasted more than 15 minutes before police broke it up.
Another sideline was being held at about the same time at Lawton and 30th Avenue, just 10 minutes’ drive away. In a viral video filmed at the crime scene, a young woman can be seen trying not to be hit by a spinning car.
San Francisco police released a statement confirming both sideshow and said officials arrived at both scenes at 12:40 p.m. and 12:50 p.m. and dispersed the crowd. Police said, “We currently have no arrest or summons to report.”
San Franciscans say these newest sideshow in quiet, residential neighborhoods are shocking not necessarily surprising. They say they happen more often across town.
“Yeah, last week our son had basketball near St. Brendan’s and during practice around 8:00 am the smell of burning tires came into the gym, so it interfered with practice, closed doors and all,” said Marty Gähwiler.
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Local residents say that with the recent mass raids, they fear the sideshow is a symptom of bigger problems in the city. “Yeah, it’s kind of a general outlaw trend, right?” said Gähwiler. “You know, mass slumps, mass sideline shows. You know, I think we need different approaches to dealing with these quality of life issues.”
Police say if residents hear or witness a sideshow, call 911 or the police emergency number.
