One man was arrested after getting into a fight with the security detail of San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan while he was being interviewed Tuesday evening, according to police.
The San Jose Police Department said Mahan was in the middle of the interview when, at around 6:03 p.m., the man approached. They described him as “displaying erratic behavior” toward both Mahan and nearby staff.
The man then went up to Mahan while shouting profanities, according to the department, at which point a plainclothes SJPD officer intervened. The department said the officer repeatedly tried to deescalate the situation, though the man still struck him.
After a struggle, the officer — with the assistance of several bystanders — took the man into custody.
The department said the officer was evaluated at a hospital for minor injuries. It is now conducting an investigation into the incident.
Mahan’s Chief Communications Officer, Tasha Dean, later released the below statement:
“Mayor Matt Mahan is deeply grateful to his security detail and the entire San Jose Police Department. The actions of the Officer tonight were heroic and a testament to the deescalation training that makes our officers effective, compassionate and stewards of community trust. His thoughts are with the Officer and he hopes for a speedy recovery. The Mayor understands how privileged he is to have an armed officer protecting him at all times, and is resolved in his commitment to create a safer city for everyone. That means hiring more police officers and addressing the root causes of crime, including by intervening earlier and more effectively in cycles of addiction, mental illness and violence.”
