Three San Jose police officers were injured in a melee downtown as a large crowd approached them while they were issuing citations for drinking alcohol in public.
Those being booked had been drinking alcohol in a lot near Market and Santa Clara streets, according to police
KPIX-TV reports that on Saturday a large crowd “aggressively interfered” with police officers shortly before 2 a.m.
One suspect was arrested after he was seeing running while holding a gun.
After his arrest, another person tried to set him free, police were forced to use a Taser to stop that person and he was also arrested.
The TV station reports that it took more than 60 officers to disperse the crowd.
The officers suffered non-life threatening injuries and were treated at the scene.
The San Jose Police Officers Association denounced the violence and called for national legislation to increase penalties on people who target law enforcement officers.
“Last night was just the latest example of what has become all too common in our country; criminals violently attacking police officers for just doing their jobs. Assaults on police officers are becoming more frequent, they are increasingly violent, and many times turn deadly for law enforcement officers,” the union said in a statement Saturday.
