Oakland police tow 60 vehicles in illegal sideshow crackdown

OAKLAND » Officers towed 60 vehicles and issued 17 citations in connection with an illegal sideshow Thursday night in Oakland, police said.

Around 8:30 p.m., a caravan of 350 vehicles arrived in the city and participants tried to take over intersections along Telegraph Avenue, according to the Oakland Police Department.

Police said the group relocated to 20th Street and Broadway, where some in the crowd threw fireworks and bottles at officers.

Participants then drove to 29th Avenue and International Boulevard, where they took over the intersection, police said. Officers were able to contain the participants and towed their vehicles.

According to police, in addition to towing vehicles and issuing citations, officers made two arrests and recovered one firearm.

The crackdown on illegal sideshows will continue through the weekend, police said.