Police car struck in massive Richmond sideshow

( KRON ) — A Richmond Police Department officer was assaulted in a series of sideshows that police say involved over 150 cars on Friday night. Police received initial reports of the sideshow at around 1:40 a.m. in the Klose Way and Blume Drive area.

Upon arriving, RPD located about 50 cars in an intersection. Police were able to disperse this first group and get them to leave the area without any citations.

Less than 30 minutes later, however, police responded to the area of Harbour Way South and Cutting Boulevard for reports of another sideshow.

RPD said this second sideshow involved “approximately 100 vehicles.”

Video footage shows a massive crowd gathered by a 7-Eleven store at an intersection. Several cars are pictured performing doughnuts at the intersection at high speeds, with dozens gathered around them, many cheering on.

Officers attempted to stop a car while dispersing the large group. While doing so, police said the suspect driver drove toward police, striking a police car and prompting a police pursuit.

“As officers attempted to make the stop, the vehicle rapidly accelerated and drove directly at an officer’s car on the wrong side of the road. The officer had to swerve out of the path of the vehicle to avoid colliding with it,” Lt. Donald Patchin with RPD told KRON4.

Police followed the suspect driver to the area of Bay View Avenue and Interstate 580. Police said the driver eventually yielded in that location, and that he was taken into custody without incident.

According to police, the driver was arrested for the following:

• Assault with a deadly weapon on a police officer
• Felony evading

The suspect was booked into the RPD jail, and police said his car would be impounded for 30 days.

“No other citations were issued,” RPD said.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRON4.