Posted on October 3, 2016

Video Shows Angry Mob Attacking CHP Patrol Car with Officer Still Inside

Kristine Guerra, Washington Post, October 3, 2016

A police officer who responded to several calls about illegal street racing and reckless driving found himself surrounded by a mob of angry people, some of whom yelled and cursed at him while others hit and kicked his vehicle as he sat inside.

“F the police, we run the streets,” they said, according to Fresno Police Chief Jerry Dyer, ABC affiliate KFSN-TV reported.

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A California Highway Patrol officer, who was first on scene, spotted a reckless driver and got out of his vehicle to make a traffic stop, the police department said. Then, people began yelling at the driver to leave. The driver sped away, and the officer went back to his vehicle to chase him. That’s when a crowd of about 30 to 40 surrounded the officer’s sport-utility vehicle.

Several people can be seen violently kicking the sides of the SUV while others recorded the incident with their phones.

The officer, whose name was not released, was able to drive away unharmed.

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Three men, Federico Gonzalez, 20; Gabriel Deanda, 18; and Milton Rodriguez, 29, have been arrested in connection with the incident, according to media reports.

Rodriguez was the driver whom the officer tried to pull over, the Fresno Bee reported. The officer’s dash camera and a license plate reader were able to collect information about the Chevrolet Tahoe that Rodriguez was driving, according to the paper.

One of the suspects was arrested after his fingerprints were traced from the officer’s SUV, according to media reports. One of them also admitted to investigators that he was upset with the California Highway Patrol for towing his car.

Both Gonzalez and Deanda are members of the Bulldog gang, the Fresno Bee reported.

The attack resulted in about $12,000 worth of damage to the patrol car, which had several dents and shattered windows.

Police are still looking for more suspects, including Guadalupe Gonzalez, 19, and a still-unidentified man who, police said, was wearing a red baseball cap and tried to throw what appeared to be a large rock at the officer.

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