24-year-old man arrested after hitting spectator

SAN JOSE, California. – San Jose city leaders promised consequences Monday for those involved in a spectacle over the weekend that left at least one person injured and a police vehicle damaged.

San Jose police said Aidan Rheault, 24, was arrested in connection with the performance that injured a concertgoer Saturday.

Investigators said Rheault hit the bystander with his car while participating in the dangerous activity. The sight prevented a reserve officer from reaching the injured person.

“Blocking an emergency response vehicle that is attempting to intervene with an injured person is unacceptable. There is no excuse for this,” Mayor Matt Mahan said.

A disturbing video of the incident was posted on social media, leaving San Jose leaders in shock.

On Saturday around 7 p.m., the spectacle blocked the intersection of Winchester Boulevard and Olin Avenue, near the upscale Santana Row shopping center.

A spectator suffered an undisclosed injury when he was struck by the car driven by Rheault. When a San Jose reserve police officer responded to a call for help, his vehicle was surrounded and vandalized by several bystanders. Some climbed on the hood of his SUV and kicked the windshield.

“Seeing this here was quite worrying, especially when all the men were jumping on the windshield. So there is fear,” Santa Clara resident Umesh Malhotra said Saturday.

The officer was trapped inside his vehicle while the crowd outside jeered.

“We saw that in the age of video, everyone wanted to do all kinds of things on social media. This is another way to get that kind of attention,” said Daniel Maxwell, master lectureships in criminal justice at the University of New Haven.

Acting Police Chief Paul Joseph, who attended a Juneteenth ceremony Monday at San Jose City Hall, would not comment on the incident.

However, he highlighted his previously released statement which read in part: “This conduct is unacceptable and will not be tolerated in our city. Detectives and criminal analysis in our Real-Time Intelligence Center are actively following up to identify all responsible.”

Last August, Mahan and other officials announced greater collaboration with social media giants such as Facebook, Instagram and X to suspend the user accounts of those who promote, participate in or post images of shows . The mayor said that, coupled with a nearly completed license plate camera system, additional penalties and more officers, shows in the city have been reduced by 50 percent.

“We will not always be able to prevent or immediately stop every crime, but you can be sure that we will track and identify the individuals responsible,” Mahan said.

Two days after the crimes, tire tracks were still visible in the street on Monday.

Experts said the lone police officer, who was slightly injured, had done all he could in chaotic conditions.

“They're really not trained, on their own, to take on a large group of people,” Maxwell said. “Even though we expect police officers to come forward and take charge.”

Police detectives said the crowd dispersed before backup officers arrived.

Investigators are using all available technology to identify and arrest those who participated in or watched the show.

The San Jose Police Association sent a statement to KTVU that said: “An absolutely shameful example of parental failure and complete disregard for civilized behavior. Parents and offenders should be absolutely embarrassed. »

Jesse Gary is a reporter based in the station's South Bay bureau. Follow him on Instagram, @jessegontv and on Facebook, @JesseKTVU.