Amy Larson and Jack Molmud
SAN JOSE, Calif. (KRON) — A defense attorney for Wesley David Pollard, the man accused of punching San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan’s security guard in the middle of an on-camera interview with KRON4, said his client has no violent criminal history. The security guard was a plainclothes on-duty San Jose Police Department officer who was assigned to protect the mayor.
The attorney defended Pollard’s record during his first court appearance in the Santa Clara County Hall of Justice on Friday.
A judge requested to view KRON4’s video of Tuesday’s incident before making any rulings. After the judge watched the video, he granted Pollard’s release from jail late Friday afternoon.
Conditions of Pollard’s pre-trial release include: He must stay at least 300 years away from the mayor and the SJPD officer; he cannot possess any weapons; and he is subject to random searches by police.
Santa Clara County prosecutors charged Pollard with felony resisting or deterring an officer by means of threat or violence, misdemeanor battery, and disturbing the peace.
The incident happened on April 23 while Mahan was speaking on camera to a KRON4 reporter outside a restaurant on South 1st Street downtown. Pollard was talking on his cellphone and walking down the sidewalk of when he apparently interrupts the mayor speaking.
“Sorry, we’re doing an interview, sir,” Mahan tells Pollard.
“Oh, you’re doing an interview?” Pollard replies. The man’s agitation toward the mayor’s bodyguard increases. Pollard told the guard, “Ok yeah, I’m moving on, I work right there. I’m talking on the phone, you got a problem? You walked up.”
“I will smack you right now. I will (vulgarity) smack you,” Pollard tells the officer. As the mayor, his staff members, and KRON4’s reporter take a few steps back, a fist fight ensues between Pollard and the officer.
Police Chief Paul Joseph described the man’s behavior as “aggressive” and “threatening.” The officer had asked the man to step back so that the mayor could continue his interview, according to the chief. “This person refused, advanced on the officer, and violently assaulted the officer by punching him repeatedly in the face,” Joseph wrote.
With KRON4’s news camera still rolling, the man can be seen on video punching the officer in the head and jumping around with a boxer’s stance. The two men grab onto each other and maintain their grips until backup arrived.
Police officers arrested Pollard and booked him into jail. The injured officer was treated in a hospital overnight.
Pollard did not enter a plea on Friday. A judge ordered him to return to court in July for an arraignment.
According to SJPD, Pollard had an outstanding warrant for his arrest in Georgia for resisting arrest with violence. Pollard’s home address is listed as a homeless shelter in downtown San Jose for recently released inmates, court records show.
