San Jose Mayor's Security Assaulted On Street During TV Interview, Mayor Recommits To More Police - Mayor Matt Mahan, a Democrat, said the city needs more cops.

The mayor of San Jose, California, was in the middle of doing a television
interview on the streets of his city when a man walking by suddenly assaulted
the mayor�s bodyguard.

Mayor Matt Mahan, a Democrat, was speaking into KRON4�s news camera in
downtown San Jose when a black male carrying a backpack walked by and shouted
something, including a bleeped obscenity, video of the incident showed.

�I would not let him go in there if we can,� Mahan immediately said with a
nervous laugh, pointing to the nearby restaurant. Mahan was in the area for a
restaurant opening.

A fight breaks out in the middle of a TV interview with San Jose
Mayor Matt Mahan between the Mayor�s security detail and a pedestrian
walking by.

The incident happened last Tuesday when a pedestrian walked by Mahan
and attempted to enter a building as he was talking loudly on�
pic.twitter.com/X1zCi736J9

� RedWave Press (@RedWave_Press) April 24, 2024

The man continued to speak aggressively to the mayor�s group, telling them,
�Just slap me in the ****ing face.�

�Sorry, we�re doing an interview, sir,� Mahan told him.

The man claimed to work nearby.

�I�m talking on the phone. You got a problem? Ok cool. I appreciate you
minding your ****ing business,� the man told the mayor�s security detail.
�I�m going to go do what the **** I�m going to do right before you walked up
to me.�

The situation escalated when the man threw his backpack to the ground and
told the mayor�s security detail, a San Jose police officer, �I will smack
you right now, bitch.�

The man appeared to land a punch to the bodyguard�s head. The two scuffled
for several more minutes as the mayor�s group called the police. Eventually
the man yelled, �let me go,� and several more men helped the bodyguard subdue
the man.

The mayor�s security detail suffered head and neck pain and stayed overnight
in the hospital. The mayor was not physically harmed during the altercation.
The suspect was identified by police as Wesley Pollard, 35, and was booked in
Santa Clara County Main Jail on multiple charges including felony battery of
a police officer.

The mayor released a statement in the aftermath of the violent incident,
calling for more police officers in San Jose.

�Mayor Matt Mahan is deeply grateful to his security detail and the entire
San Jose Police Department. The actions of the Officer tonight were heroic
and a testament to the deescalation training that makes our officers
effective, compassionate and stewards of community trust. His thoughts are
with the Officer and he hopes for a speedy recovery,� the mayor�s office
said.

�The Mayor understands how privileged he is to have an armed officer
protecting him at all times, and is resolved in his commitment to create a
safer city for everyone,� the statement continued. �That means hiring more
police officers and addressing the root causes of crime, including by
intervening earlier and more effectively in cycles of addiction, mental
illness and violence.�

Mahan has previously committed to hiring more cops, but last year he was
criticized for being slow to staff up the police department.

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Let's go Brandon!





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Let's go Brandon!