Mob Of Bicyclists Swarm Officers, Steal Bodycam And Keys In Attack

Sacramento, CA – A Sacramento State police officer’s bodycam and keys were stolen after he was attacked by a swarm of 20-30 suspects on bicycles late last week.

The incident occurred on June 4, after the Sacramento State Police Department (SSPD) received a report that a mob of bicyclists had torn down a sign and were using it to perform stunts on the east side of campus near Guy West Plaza, The Sacramento Bee reported.

SSPD Chief Mark Iwasa said it is common for officers to come upon groups of bikers who congregate at the campus to do tricks off of stairs and other structures.

When a lone SSPD officer went to the area of the complaint on June 4 to ask the group of 20-30 riders to disperse, several began taunting him and riding circles around him, Chief Iwasa said.

A juvenile on a bike attempted to ram the officer at one point, resulting in a physical confrontation, The Sacramento Bee reported.

As the officer fought with the suspect, members of the mob circled around them and tried to help the suspect break free from the officer.

Two backup officers rushed to the scene and were confronted by a man who tried to assault them, Chief Iwasa said.

The suspect allegedly raised his fist to take a swing at them, at which point another officer deployed a Taser, The Sacramento Bee reported.

The man was then taken into custody.

A member of the mob stole one of the officer’s bodycams during the brawl, Chief Iwasa said.

“The crowd, several of them, attacked one of my officers,” an officer said over the radio after the incident, according to KOVR. “And in this struggle, his camera was knocked off. They took his camera and took his keys.”

The equipment was later tracked to a spot near the railroad tracks, but it still hasn’t been located, The Sacramento Bee reported.

The crowd scattered after a helicopter showed up overhead.

Officers arrested the man who tried to assault them, as well as the juvenile who tried to ram his bicycle into the first officer who responded to the scene, The Sacramento Bee reported.

No officers were injured during the attacks, Chief Iwasa said.

The chief noted that such assaults are “pretty unusual” for the area.

“That type of thing we haven’t seen before,” he told The Sacramento Bee.