Neighborhood unrest is simmering in Oakland following multiple sideshows that erupted early Sunday morning, disrupting residents and challenging police response capabilities. One car – an Infiniti suspected to be stolen – ended its night ablaze as part of the chaotic scene in the city. CBS San Francisco reported neighbors' frustrations, with one, Glen Collins, expressing his outrage in no uncertain terms: "If I had a gun, I would have started shooting. Really. Where were the police? Where were the police?"
As reported by KTVU, these gatherings, specifically a 500-person sideshow in Oakland, were marked by one vehicle set on fire and resulted in 21 citations and four tows by the Oakland police. The Oakland Police Officers Association voiced concerns over insufficient staffing, revealing they had only 16 police cars to combat the unrest while suggesting the city's force is significantly understaffed. The police union also criticized "restrictive city policies that also hinder OPD's abilities," though specifics on those policies were not detailed.
While some residents seemed to take the disturbances in stride, others, like Sherna Perez, voiced concerns for the potential spread of fire to surrounding structures, telling CBS San Francisco, "Because they could get something else on fire, these old buildings around here. That's kind of scary. That seems like extra. I don't think they need to be doing all that." A sentiment of lawlessness was echoed by an unnamed neighbor who described the scene as "pure chaos," pointing to the screeching wheels and uproarious crowd.
Despite the apparent danger, official reports have not indicated any injuries or arrests from the incident. The Oakland Police Officers' Association emphasized in a statement that officers did what they could under the circumstances, but found themselves outnumbered by approximately 500 participants and spectators, as reported by CBS San Francisco. This helplessness was not enough for some residents, with Collins dismissing the union's perspective as a "poor excuse." Alexis, another resident, raised skepticism on police motives, claiming that "OPD doesn't really respond to things and they like to get a lot of overtime pay, so they usually draw things out and don't react to things."
Video of the incident at 41st and Howe depicted the extent of chaos, including the setting of the Infiniti on fire, corroborated by a social media post from journalist Henry K. Lee, and Henry K. Lee on KTVU. With the aftereffects of the sideshows still lingering in the community, some locals have initiated calls for structural changes like traffic circles that could pose a physical challenge to the organization of future sideshows. One woman's petition represents a proactive attempt at safeguarding the neighborhood without relying solely on stretched-thin police resources. Yet, as nights like these take their toll, Collins summarized his solution to the sideshow problem bleakly: "The solution is to move out of the neighborhood. Really. This is going to happen. This is unresponsive Oakland police," he told CBS San Francisco.
Chaotic 3 a.m. sideshow at 41st & Howe during which spectators launch fireworks - and vandalize & set @INFINITIUSA car on fire. @oaklandpoliceca dispersed crowd after half an hour pic.twitter.com/BC7Fb1zztb
— Henry K. Lee (@henrykleeKTVU) August 25, 2025
