San Jose Mayor’s security attacked during TV interview, Mayor vows increased police presence
The mayor of San Jose, California, faced an assault on his bodyguard during a street TV interview. Mayor Matt Mahan was speaking when a man walked by, shouting obscenities and causing a commotion. Despite the disturbance, Mahan maintained composure, addressing the situation calmly. The incident, captured on video, drew attention to the need for heightened security measures in the area. The mayor of San Jose, California, Mayor Matt Mahan, dealt with an attack on his bodyguard during a street TV interview. Despite a passerby shouting obscenities, causing a disturbance, Mahan stayed composed and handled the situation calmly. The incident highlighted the necessity for increased security measures in the vicinity, as shown in the captured video footage.
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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