SAN JOSE, Calif. (KRON) — Eighty-seven people were arrested in San Jose over Cinco de Mayo weekend as officers enforced a “zero tolerance” tactic toward criminal behavior. Simultaneously, San Jose Police Department officers also joined city-sanctioned Cinco de Mayo cultural festivities to celebrate the holiday.
San Jose drew large crowds throughout the weekend of May 3-5. “City sanctioned events were largely successful, and the majority of community members and visitors lawfully enjoyed this cultural celebration that has been a San Jose tradition for decades,” Sgt. Jorge Garibay wrote.
An officer donning a custom SJPD mariachi uniform sang with a mariachi band at one festival, and a low-riding classic SJPD patrol car cruised with 300 local lowriders paying homage to Chicano and Mexican roots and traditions.
“We proudly embrace and understand the significance this celebration holds for residents and visitors. SJPD also employed zero tolerance for criminal behavior,” Garibay wrote.
SJPD said several felony crimes, reckless driving incidents and sideshows, required enforcement action. Violence flared about an hour after a city-sanctioned festival ended in Emma Prusch Farm Park on King Road. Two people were stabbed and rushed to a hospital with life-threatening injuries.
Large Cinco de Mayo crowds that gathered for unsanctioned events and sideshows were broken up by police.
Garibay wrote, “This weekend’s sanctioned events were peaceful and well attended family events. However, the City experienced a high number of unrelated disruptive visitors who desired to create unsafe conditions for our Officers and the public. Among many other things, SJPD investigated a double stabbing event with life threatening injuries, numerous physical fights, multiple sideshows events throughout the city, an alcohol related vehicle collision where the intoxicated suspect driver collided with a patrol vehicle injuring our officer, assaults on patrol officers, vandalism to patrol cars, and multiple firearms arrests.”
While proactively patrolling impacted areas from May 3-5, SJPD statistics included:
- Felony Arrests: 17
- Misdemeanor Arrests: 52
- Warrant Arrests: 18
- Vehicle Impounds: 8
- Traffic Citations Issued: 156
- Firearms seized: 6
- 911 calls for service: 2,100
Garibay wrote, “Historically, the Police Department has received numerous requests from residents and business owners concerned about unsanctioned gatherings and activities. Traffic diversions were only deployed when traffic gridlock was starting to occur, and/or when crowds started to become large and unruly enough that they presented a public safety issue. Due to the illegal actively and other safety concerns, SJPD deployed several traffic diversions to maintain public safety. Once public safety was restored, the traffic diversions were lifted.”
The police department said it looks forward to continuing its collaboration with communities to build on 2024’s success to ensure safety for future Cinco de Mayo celebrations.
