A man is facing several charges after he crashed through a barricade and into a parade, endangering the lives of several pedestrians.
A newly released video captured 42-year-old Sidney Sean Mecham of Portland, Oregon hurling expletives just moments before crashing through the barriers of the Portland Rose Festival’s Grand Floral parade.
The incident that left numerous men, women, and children fleeing for their lives occurred back on June 10th. According to KGW8, the prosecutors presented the video as evidence during a preventive detention hearing, where a judge determines whether the defendant will be held in jail pending their trial.
According to the Multnomah County Pretrial Services Program’s guidelines, under which the detainee is currently incarcerated, judges conduct risk assessments to determine the likelihood of the accused to commit further offenses and their probability of attending court, as stated on the county’s website.
County Judge Judith Matarazzo has approved a state motion to keep Mecham in jail before his trial.
Mecham, however, has since pled not guilty to the 38 counts he is facing, per the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office. To add to the list of offenses, he was also driving with a suspended driver’s license and had no proof of insurance at the time of the incident, states KGW8.
The dashcam footage displayed multiple angles from inside and outside Mecham’s car. The Portland, Oregon resident quickly grew impatient after he came across the roadblocks meant for the safety of those who were attending the parade.
“They got it all blocked off,” Mecham screamed. He then started yelling at the workers, using offensive language, all while raising his middle finger and repeatedly blaring his horn.
Moments after his outburst, the video captures Mecham speeding through a blocked exit, brushing past warning signs about the upcoming parade. Ignoring these warnings entirely, Mecham veered onto the grassy shoulder to bypass a city vehicle obstructing his path.
In the video, Mecham can then be seen driving directly into the crowded parade route. The terrified screams of attendees fill the air as they scramble to escape Mecham’s speeding car. Some workers and other onlookers can also be seen desperately trying to flag down Mecham, but he continues without uttering a word.
A police officer on a motorcycle made an attempt to pull him over, but Mecham shouted, “I’m trying to get out,” and continued driving further into the parade, endangering the lives of numerous people. Eventually, Mecham managed to evade the officer, but he didn’t stop to acknowledge his grave mistake at any moment during the incident.
Warning: This video may be disturbing to watch
Thankfully, no one was seriously injured.
As for Mecham, this isn’t his first run in with the law. In 1999, Mecham who has since been labeled a sex offender, was convicted for attempted first-degree rape as well as attempted first-degree sodomy according to the Oregon State Police sex offender registry. In 2016, he was convicted of third-degree sodomy and third-degree sexual abuse, per the registry.
Mecham is currently being held in Multnomah County Inverness Jail. According to KGW8, a trial date has been set for the road rage incident. Per the Oregon Judicial Department, Mecham is also awaiting new counsel.