Postgame joy turned into late-night headaches on San Antonio's Southwest Side, where police say two people were arrested after rowdy Spurs celebrations spilled into the street and into oncoming trouble. In separate incidents, one man allegedly climbed onto cars and shoved an officer, while another driver is accused of backing into a parked vehicle and then hitting an officer after being told to move. Authorities said both officers avoided serious injury and both suspects were taken into custody.
According to News 4 San Antonio, the first arrest happened around midnight Sunday near Southwest Military Drive and Somerset Road. Officers told the station a 42-year-old man was seen jumping on vehicles in the street. When an officer tried to escort him off one of the cars, police say the man pushed the officer, who fell but was not seriously hurt. The suspect was taken into custody at the scene.
About an hour later, officers were called back to the same stretch of Southwest Military for a reported fight and crowd disturbance. Investigators told News 4 San Antonio that Francis Nicole Cervantes was asked to move her vehicle. Police say she "resisted commands to exit the vehicle," then backed into a parked car after pulling over and "struck an officer" in the process. According to the report, the officer involved was not injured.
What police are saying
The San Antonio Police Department has spent much of this Spurs run reminding fans that there is a legal way to celebrate and a very illegal way to celebrate. The department has urged people to stay inside vehicles, wear seat belts and skip the fireworks and rooftop riding that have started popping up on busy corridors. In a statement to KSAT, SAPD said, "If they want to celebrate... just be safe, follow traffic laws, follow city ordinances," adding that officers will continue to stage along known celebration routes to keep things from getting out of hand.
How celebrations have escalated
What started as San Antonio's longtime honking ritual has, in some pockets this postseason, edged into something closer to a rolling stunt show. Neighbors and local reporters say the honk-and-cruise tradition on streets like Southwest Military has increasingly featured burnouts, people riding on car roofs and even a truck rollover caught on video. As Spurs playoff mayhem and MySA reported, officers have already made several arrests in recent weeks, and city leaders are weighing new restrictions to keep the ritual from sliding into real danger.
A sobering reminder
The celebration streak has already delivered a harsh lesson. Local outlets reported that a 17-year-old fell from a vehicle during an earlier postgame honk-and-drive and was rushed to the hospital in critical condition. KSAT and the Express-News reported that family members say the teenager suffered severe head trauma and remains on life support, prompting renewed pleas from relatives and authorities for fans to tone down the risky antics.
What the law says
Under Texas law, reckless driving, defined as conduct that shows a "wilful or wanton disregard for the safety of persons or property," is a misdemeanor under Transportation Code Section 545.401. Unlawful possession or display of a firearm is covered by Penal Code Chapter 46. Prosecutors will decide whether to file any charges after investigators finish reviewing the evidence from the latest disturbances.
Police told MySA that the Southwest Side cases remain under investigation and asked anyone with video or other information from the scene to contact detectives. With the Spurs' playoff run keeping the city buzzing well past midnight, SAPD is stressing that the party only works if everyone shares the job of keeping each other safe.
