The man who punched Democratic San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan’s security guard Tuesday night while a local television news station’s cameras were rolling has been identified.
San Jose police said the suspect, 35-year-old Wesley Pollard, is being held at the Elmwood Correctional Facility in Milpitas on $26,000 bail. KRON-TV reported.
Image source: YouTube screenshot
Police added that Pollard was arrested on charges of resisting arrest with violence and assaulting a police officer, the department said.
Pollard also had a warrant for his arrest in Georgia, KRON reported. This was also because he resisted violent arrest.
Pollard is scheduled to appear in court at noon Friday, the department said.
What fell down?
a chron tv At the time, the station was interviewing the mayor on South 1st Street, so cameras recorded the entire two-minute fight and what preceded it.
The department said Mahan was in the area to open a restaurant, and footage of the interview showed a man walking to the right of the mayor.
Cron said the pedestrian then approached the mayor’s security guard and the two engaged in a verbal exchange while Mahan told the pedestrian he was being interviewed.
“Oh, are you interviewing?” the pedestrian asked Mahan, who was again on camera to the mayor’s right.
Image source: YouTube screenshot
“I’m talking on the phone,” the pedestrian said, this time presumably to Mahan’s security guard. “Is something wrong?”
According to KRON, the pedestrian then told the trooper, also a San Jose police officer, to “mind his (explicit) business.” The pedestrian also told the officer, “I was going to do what I was (explicitly) going to do right before you approached me,” police said.
Immediately, the pedestrian started walking forward and away from the camera, and there was apparently physical contact between the pedestrian and the officer. The pedestrian was also heard saying he was going to “hit” the security guard.
KRON said the pedestrian appeared to hit the security guard in the head with his right hand. Here’s a video of that punch and the seconds that followed:
The fight between pedestrians and security personnel continued for some time. This screenshot of the battle includes arrows (from left to right) pointing to the guard, pedestrian, and mayor.
Image source: YouTube screenshot
KRON video shows several bystanders finally joining the fray and helping troopers control the pedestrians.
Image source: YouTube screenshot
San Jose police officers eventually took the pedestrian into custody, the department said.
Image source: YouTube screenshot
Paul Joseph, Acting Chief of the San Jose Police Department told KTVU-TV The unidentified security guard was punched multiple times in the face and was hospitalized overnight before being released.
Joseph said the footage of the altercation does not show the security guard attempting to identify himself or de-escalate the situation, police said.
Still, Joseph told KTVU, adding that police will investigate the incident to determine whether the guard complied with use-of-force laws.
Suspect identified who fought with San Jose mayor’s security guardyoutube.be
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