Sidney Mecham, a 42-year-old man, is currently facing 38 criminal charges after allegedly driving through traffic barriers at Portland’s rose parade in June, narrowly avoiding revelers and evading pursuing police. Newly released dashcam footage reveals the shocking incident, showing Mecham driving his vehicle through the crowded parade, causing panic among the pedestrians and forcing them to run for cover. Mecham has been waiting for new counsel since August due to a shortage of public defenders in Oregon.
The video, released during an August hearing, shows Mecham’s reckless behavior as he nearly collides with dozens of pedestrians, including small children, along the parade route. Prosecutors have charged Mecham with felonies for attempted assault, multiple counts of unlawful use of a weapon, attempted assault on a police officer, and attempting to elude law enforcement by vehicle. Each of the 17 unlawful use of a weapon counts corresponds to a person who was almost hit by Mecham’s vehicle.
Despite the charges, Mecham has pleaded not guilty to all of them. His previous attorney argued that Mecham was disoriented and trying to navigate a difficult situation during the incident. It was also revealed that Mecham was driving without insurance and with a suspended license.
In addition to the charges related to the parade incident, Mecham also faces a series of traffic violations captured on his own dash cameras. These violations include rolling through stop signs and red lights, driving through construction sites, and speeding.
Mecham’s criminal history includes previous convictions for traffic violations and sex crimes. He has been cited for driving uninsured, speeding, and making unlawful turns in the past. The video footage also captures Mecham screaming profanities and making obscene gestures towards roadside workers.
The incident occurred during the city’s annual Rose Festival Grand Floral Parade, where thousands of people had gathered along the parade route. Witnesses described the chaos and panic caused by Mecham’s reckless driving, with children running for cover and parade-goers screaming.
The situation escalated when Officer David Baer attempted to stop Mecham by steering his motorcycle into his path. However, Mecham accelerated instead of pulling over, displacing chairs and barricades as he sped away. He was eventually arrested after pulling over near Northeast 24th Avenue and Clackamas Street.
Mecham’s actions put the safety of numerous individuals at risk and have resulted in a lengthy list of charges against him. He remains in custody at Inverness Jail in Northeast Portland.
