Downtown San Jose mob attacks officers, injuring 3

Three San Jose police officers suffered minor injuries early Saturday when they were attacked by a mob while issuing citations for public drinking in a downtown lot.

At 1:44 a.m. the officers were issuing citations near the intersection of Market and Santa Clara streets when a mob approached the officers “and aggressively interfered with their investigation,” according to the San Jose Police Department.

A few of the officers were assaulted as they attempted to clear the lot, and one male was seen “running while holding a gun.” Officers captured him and took him into custody, locating the gun in his waistband.

“An unrelated suspect” then tried to free the person with a gun from police custody, police said. That suspect was shot with a Taser and also taken into custody, police said.

More than 60 officers were called to clear the unruly crowd from the parking lot and Market Street corridor. Three officers sustained nonlifethreatening injuries and were treated at the scene.

San Jose Police Officers’ Association President Paul Kelly, in a statement, called the early morning confrontation “just the latest example of what has become all too common in our country, criminals violently attacking police officers for just doing their jobs.”

“Assaults on police officers are becoming more frequent, they are increasingly violent, and many times turn deadly for law enforcement officers,” Kelly said.