Man injured in shooting at Santa Rosa sideshow

One day after a man was shot during a Santa Rosa sideshow, the city’s interim police chief said police are taking a proactive approach to stop the illegal activities.

John Cregan highlighted a series of measures to keep sideshows from developing into large-scale events.

One step, he said, includes organizing a countywide protocol that is still being developed but was tested Thursday night when multiple agencies responded to the gathering at Sebastopol Road and West Avenue.

“It kind of sent the message we weren’t going to tolerate it last night,” said Cregan, who declined to give specifics about what the protocol entails.

A 22-year-old man was shot multiple times during the event that drew as many as 750 people and 200 vehicles, according to Santa Rosa police.

Police say the victim suffered gunshots to his lower extremities just after 10 p.m. He was taken to a local hospital where as of Friday morning he was in critical condition but expected to survive, according to police.

Cregan said no arrests have been made in the shooting.

The Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office, California Highway Patrol and Santa Rosa, Petaluma and Rohnert Park police departments participated in the multi-agency response.

Multiple sideshows sprang up Thursday night across Santa Rosa, according to the police department, which had been monitoring intersections throughout Cinco de Mayo celebrations.

Three to five smaller sideshows took place in addition to the one at Sebastopol and West Avenue.

Reports of a Roseland sideshow started coming into police at about 7:30 p.m. and hundreds of people had gathered in the intersection to watch.

Heavy traffic filled the area even before gunfire erupted. Jennifer Wertz, an Uber driver, was among those caught in congested conditions.

She arrived after reluctantly bringing a passenger to the festivities, which were “completely jampacked” with vehicles.

“Once I figured out where we were going, I didn’t even want to take her,” said Wertz, 51.

She dropped off the passenger at around 9:15 p.m. on West Avenue, south of Sebastopol Road. Wertz headed north toward Sebastopol Road, got stuck in traffic and managed to turn around onto southbound West Avenue.

“Even if you had a smaller car, the situation was you had to turn around before some guy burning rubber runs into you,” Wertz said.

Following the shooting, police coordinated with other law enforcement agencies to disperse participants and no other sideshows developed, Cregan said.

Thursday night’s gathering had been the latest in a series that has led to injuries and caused concern among Santa Rosa residents and leaders.

Last month, two people suffered gunshot wounds during a sideshow at Dutton Avenue and Ninth Street. Both victims, described as 20-year-old men from Santa Rosa and Woodland, were expected to survive.

Those shootings are still being investigated and detectives want witnesses to come forward, Cregan said.

In September 2020, two girls were injured after they were hit by a Ford Mustang during a sideshow at Santa Rosa Marketplace along Santa Rosa Avenue.

Last year, attention fell on Sebastopol Road at West Avenue where sideshows had become prevalent. During one such gathering two young women were stabbed.

Last year, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed into law a bipartisan bill officially identifying sideshows as events involving at least two vehicles that block traffic for the purpose of performing stunts, speed contests or reckless driving for an audience.

City officials began looking for ways to curb sideshows, with efforts including impounding vehicles linked to gatherings and installing raised dots at Sebastopol Road and West Avenue to deter reckless driving.

Raised dots have been installed at 25 intersections across the city and more than 50 vehicles have been impounded recently, Cregan said.

Responding officers have typically monitored sideshows from afar before taking action due to the large number of people present and potential for danger.

Cregan noted his office is dealing with a “balancing act” because officials want to stop sideshows quickly but also need to monitor situations to ensure everyone avoids danger.

“We’re also seeing such direct animosity toward officers,” he said.

You can reach Phil Barber at 707-521-5263 or phil.barber@pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter @Skinny_Post.