SAN JOSE — Authorities on Thursday announced a major crackdown on the shows, saying they had used so-called “developer’s order» to arrest seven people responsible for advertising and promoting more than 20 unauthorized street events.

At a news conference Thursday afternoon, San Jose police announced the arrest of seven suspects who allegedly organized and promoted 22 shows in the South Bay city as part of a group called Hockey Team.

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According to a city news release, the suspects were indicted in December on charges related to a criminal conspiracy to violate the law. developer’s order; a person was also suspected of being involved in a theft that occurred during a show.

Of the seven men arrested, five reside in San Jose and two in Oakland. Police said they also have outstanding arrest warrants for two other suspects, a Sunnyvale man and a Salinas man.

“San Jose is truly a model and leading the way in how communities can respond to the sideshow epidemic,” said San Jose Police Chief Paul Joseph. “Our message today is clear. In San Jose, watching a show is illegal, participating in one is illegal, promoting one is illegal. If you do, we will find you, take your vehicle and take you to jail.

Joseph said this was the city’s largest enforcement effort to date under laws passed in 2020 and 2021, which led to a repression of entertainment activities. The chief cited ordinances that prohibit “viewing, promoting, encouraging, inciting, assisting, facilitating or aiding and abetting” those who stage entertainment and reckless driving in San Jose.

Operation Penalty Box, as it was called, lasted 28 months and monitored at least 23 major shows announced by the hockey team, police said. Joseph said that on average, the group’s shows would attract at least a dozen vehicles and draw crowds of hundreds of people that could stop traffic at seven or eight intersections for hours at a time.

The challenge for law enforcement in this investigation came from the careful planning of the show organizers, Joseph said; only a few people shared details about events in a decentralized way, making it harder for authorities to know about them in advance.

Joseph said that while police were investigating, they noted eight instances of police vehicles being attacked by show attendees, including one infamous incident in broad daylight earlier this year which was filmed. Investigators also located dozens of discharged and seized firearms, and documented numerous instances of lasers aimed at police on the ground and in helicopters, six pedestrians struck by reckless drivers, and two officers struck by participants’ vehicles. at the show.

San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan thanked police for their efforts during the investigation and warned people who may attend or participate in shows that they risk losing their cars, paying fines or even be sentenced to prison. He also emphasized following traffic laws ahead of Halloween activities on Thursday and throughout the weekend, advising drivers to watch out for potential booby traps lying around.

“We may not catch you the night you attend, promote or perform at a show, maybe not the next day or week, but you will be caught. You will be held accountable,” Mahan said. “Don’t condemn your future self for the mistakes you made today.”

Assistant Santa Clara County Prosecutor Jay Boyarski said some of the suspects were arraigned Wednesday and more arraignments will occur in the future. The indictments, obtained thanks to the great .