SAN JOSE, Calif. (KRON) — A physical altercation broke out between San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan’s security detail and a pedestrian passing by 55 S 1st St. in downtown San Jose on Tuesday evening. Mahan, who was in the area for a restaurant opening, was in the middle of an interview with KRON4.
Video captured the entire altercation that escalated to violence. Watch the video in the media player above.
Around the 55-second mark in the video, the pedestrian appears to land a right-hand punch to the security detail’s head.
In the beginning of the video, a person is seen walking by Mahan’s right shoulder before approaching the mayor’s protective detail. The two are heard in a verbal exchange as Mahan tells the pedestrian he is in the middle of an interview.
The pedestrian then tells the security detail, who is a San Jose Police Department officer, to “mind your (explicit) business.” “I was going to do what the (explicit) I was going to do right before you walked up to me,” he said to the security guard.
Soon after, the altercation went from verbal to physical. The pedestrian is heard telling the officer that he will smack him.
The two struggled for a few minutes before bystanders helped the mayor’s security detail. The pedestrian was eventually detained by SJPD officers.
Mahan’s security detail sustained an injury during the altercation and was taken to the hospital for evaluation. Police tell KRON4 they are submitting evidence to the district attorney’s office.
The suspect was booked into Santa Clara County Main Jail for multiple charges, including felony battery on a police officer. SJPD said the motive and circumstances surrounding the altercation are under investigation.
Mahan was not physically harmed during this incident.
Mayor Mahan’s office issued the following statement regarding the incident:
“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 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. 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.”