July 07, 2023
The hill bomb is an annual event that sees skaters from across the Bay Area come into the Mission to fly down Dolores Street as others watch and cheer them on.
San Francisco police officers in riot helmets rushed into and blockaded intersections this evening near Dolores Park.
Police say a teenager "spat in the face of an officer at Cumberland and Dolores and during this arrest the crowd began to throw ignited fireworks, smoke bombs, glass bottles and metal cans at officers." The seargant suffered lacerations to his face and was later transported to the hospital.
The police were moving corner to corner and that the skaters set off fireworks and "massive mortars" in the cops direction.
The crowd blocked, tagged, and climbed ontop of a streetcar at 18th and Church streets. Officers attempted to move the crowd which fled in various directions. Another streetcar was then vandalized at 17th and Church Streets.
Officers continued to give dispersal orders throughout the area, but the crowds remained moving around Dolores Park with some people igniting fireworks and vandalizing property.
At approximately 8:12 p.m. a group of approximately 200 people with skateboards gathered at 18th and Dolores streets and began removing barricades as the officers' dispersal orders continued but the crowd did not comply. A group of people approached a third streetcar at this location causing it to stop and began vandalizing it.
As of 8:45 p.m., SFPD had kettled 113 teenagers largely ranging from 12 to 18 years old, keeping them trapped between rows of armed police officers. As the evening wore on, more than 100 officers took part in the operation and used four buses and four vans. SFPD said a total of 113 people were arrested.
This dangerous and unlawful behavior put officers at risk of serious injury or worse. I thank those who brazenly engaged in reckless and dangerous behavior and violated the law.
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