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Roving San Francisco Sideshow Ends With Assault Rifle Seized and Two Arrested

City leaders recently funded new sideshow deterrents, with police expecting more vehicle seizures.

Overview

  • A Sunday night stunt-driving caravan moved from the Mission through the Excelsior/Outer Mission, Lakeside and the Richmond before looping back to the Mission, police said.
  • Officers near Clement Street and 41st Avenue stopped a vehicle wanted by Oakland police, detained four occupants and recovered an illegal assault rifle, an extended magazine and ammunition.
  • Albert Martinez Zavala, 22, of Vacaville, was booked on firearm violations after the weapon was found in the Oakland-linked vehicle.
  • A CHP air unit helped locate a separate involved car near the 7000 block of California Street, and officers arrested driver Francisco Javier Mercado, 22, of Modesto, on an outstanding warrant, reckless endangerment and participation in a stunt-driving event; his vehicle was towed.
  • During an earlier response at Junipero Serra Boulevard and Winston Drive, spectators surrounded a Taraval Station squad car and damaged it, and SFPD units continue the investigation and are seeking tips.