The San Francisco Police Department arrested several teenagers this weekend in the Mission during an annual skateboarding event.
The teens were gathered near Dolores Park for the annual event known as the “hill bomb” – where hundreds gather each year to watch skateboarders race down Dolores Street
Early Saturday evening, police arrived at the scene in riot helmets and initially blocked intersections, before corralling dozens of skaters and young onlookers, according to Mission Local. More than 100 officers were present.
In a statement, SFPD said that a total of 113 people were arrested – 81 juveniles and 32 adults. They face misdemeanor charges of inciting riot, conspiracy, and failure to disperse.
Sergeant Stephen Benzinger told Mission Local that the operation was a concerted effort to arrest people, who remained on the scene after dispersal orders were given.
CBS News reported that the SFPD Union described those at the event as “a mob of juveniles and adults hell-bent on destruction.”
On Sunday, dozens of people gathered outside of the SFPD’s Mission police station to protest.
Kevin Ortiz, president of the SF Latinx Democratic Club issued a statement on behalf of the organization that said, “we will not stand for any form of unnecessary police violence.” The group has called for the Police Commission and the Department of Police Accountability to investigate last weekend’s events.
