California sheriff seeks to destroy cars seized in sideshows

California sheriff confiscates nearly 100 cars after sideshow

California sheriff confiscates nearly 100 cars after sideshow in San Joaquin County.

STOCKTON, Calif. - At least one sheriff in California does not plan on returning almost 90 vehicles seized after a massive sideshow bust over the weekend.

"I wouldn't waste your time coming out here or calling about your car because it's going to sit until a judge or DA tells us to let it go," San Joaquin County Sheriff Patrick Withrow told KCRA 3 in Sacramento.

Withrow was talking about the 88 vehicles his special sideshow task force deputies seized Feb. 3 in Stockton.

Deputies also detained 150 people and arrested others, booking them in jail. Several guns and drugs were also found inside some of the cars, the sheriff said.

As part of the sheriff's zero-tolerance stance on sideshows, deputies are confiscating cars whose drivers do donuts and drive recklessly as evidence and then impounding them.

Oakland sideshow disrupts residential neighborhood

A daylight sideshow involved dozens of spectators in a residential neighborhood of Oakland on Park Boulevard near Lake Merritt. Meanwhile, Vallejo police said they impounded cars involved in a sideshow there.

Deputies will also seek court orders to destroy vehicles they deem dangerous.

"We have search warrants for each one of these vehicles and we will search it, document it. If we have to fingerprint or take DNA samples, we will," Withrow said.

This is the first time the sheriff has seized this many vehicles, and he believes it will send a message.

Withrow warned: "Future sideshow activity will be met with the same level of enforcement."