Police say two victims reported battery and vandalism near Jefferson Street.
SAN FRANCISCO, CA — A group of people on bicycles surrounded a car near San Francisco’s waterfront and attacked the occupants, police said, in an incident that left broken glass and visible damage to the vehicle. Investigators said no arrests had been made as of Friday.
The confrontation happened Feb. 21 in the Marina area after a large motorsports showcase drew crowds to the neighborhood. Police said two victims reported being battered and their vehicle vandalized, while a social media video of the episode circulated online. The case has renewed attention on so-called “ride outs,” where large groups of riders move together through city streets and, in some cases, clash with drivers and pedestrians.
One of the people in the car, Isaac Auerbach, said he and friends had been leaving the Red Bull event when dozens of teenagers on bicycles closed in around them. Auerbach said the situation escalated quickly after he tried to respond to what he described as unwanted contact with one of his friends in the crowd. “One of these random kids decides to grope one of my friend’s breasts,” Auerbach said. He said his friend threw a drink after that, and then another rider spit in his face. Auerbach said someone punched him and the group began striking the car, trapping the occupants as riders crowded the doors and windows. He said he and his friends were shaken but grateful they made it out without worse injuries.
San Francisco police said officers responded at about 5:01 p.m. on Feb. 21 to the 300 block of Jefferson Street for a report of battery and vandalism. Officers met with two victims, police said, and one had injuries consistent with a possible assault but declined additional medical attention. Investigators said multiple people on bicycles approached the victims and argued with them, then followed as the driver tried to leave the area. Police said the suspects battered the driver while he was inside the vehicle and began vandalizing the car. A second victim was also battered by one of the suspects before getting into the vehicle, police said, as the group surrounded and damaged it.
Auerbach and his family said the car’s damage was obvious after the riders moved on. They described broken glass, dents and marks left on the vehicle, including what appeared to be a shoeprint. Auerbach’s mother, Jasmine Freeman, said she heard panic in her son’s voice when he called during the incident. “When your son… calls you in absolute panic, yeah, it was really scary,” Freeman said. Freeman said she contacted city officials and was connected to police as the family tried to make sure investigators had the video and any details that could help identify the riders.
The attack unfolded against the backdrop of a high-profile demonstration event that shut down major streets and packed the Marina with spectators earlier that day. The Red Bull Showrun, a Formula One-style showcase staged along Marina Boulevard, required street closures between Baker and Buchanan streets and rerouted transit service in the neighborhood, transportation officials said. Organizers promoted the event as a chance for fans to see elite motorsports vehicles up close, and news reports described large crowds pressing for a view and spilling onto sidewalks, signs and elevated surfaces. The congestion and commotion left some residents and visitors frustrated, even before the later confrontation near Jefferson Street.
Police have not said what, if any, charges might be filed if suspects are identified, but the department described the reported crimes as battery and vandalism. Because witnesses said many of the riders appeared to be juveniles, any future cases could involve confidential juvenile court proceedings, which typically limit what information authorities can release. Investigators said the case remains open and active. Police asked anyone with information to contact the San Francisco Police Department tip line at 415-575-4444 or to text a tip to TIP411 and begin the message with SFPD.
The Jefferson Street case is not the only recent report of violence involving groups of young riders in the Bay Area. In Santa Clara earlier this month, driver John Hidalgo said a rider on an e-bike hit his car after running a red light, and then a larger group arrived and blamed him for the crash. Hidalgo said attackers punched, kicked and jumped on him, leaving him with a fractured 12th rib and a fractured second lumbar vertebra. “I was just fighting for my life,” Hidalgo said in an interview about the episode. San Francisco police have also described an assault at Aquatic Cove near the city’s Maritime National Historical Park on Jan. 18, when a man who told young bicyclists to slow down was battered and had property taken. Paramedics treated him at the scene for minor injuries, and police said bystanders confronted the youths, who fled and left the belongings behind.
Freeman said she decided to speak publicly because she believes attention could help prevent future attacks and encourage witnesses to come forward. Auerbach said he worries the next person might not be as lucky if a driver panics while surrounded. In the meantime, police said they are reviewing information tied to the social media video and asking anyone who recorded the incident to share it with investigators. Officials have not announced any suspect descriptions or arrests, and they have not released an estimate of how many riders were involved.
As of Friday, San Francisco police said the Jefferson Street investigation remained active and no arrests had been made. Investigators said they are still seeking tips and video as they work to identify the riders and determine what led up to the confrontation.
Author note: Last updated February 27, 2026.