The start of Portland’s annual Grand Floral Parade was disrupted last Saturday when a man driving a pickup truck went racing through the parade route, KOIN in Oregon reported.
Sidney Sean Mecham, 42, a registered sex offender, plowed through a blockade as attendees, including some children, were on the road. Nobody was injured.
One witness told KOIN that there were “tons” of children and toddlers on the road getting candy when Mecham drove through at around 30 mph about 10 minutes before the start of the parade.
In its report on the incident, Oregon Live posted a video of the moment Mecham’s truck came through.
A Portland police officer reported seeing Mecham heading onto the parade route and described seeing attendees running away screaming.
But Mecham failed to stop, heading south on Northeast MLK Jr. Blvd, where an officer attempted to pull him over, only for Mecham to refuse.
According to the Portland Police Bureau, the officer attempted to remain in front of Mecham’s truck to warn pedestrians away. But when it appeared that Mecham was trying to hit him, the officer moved out of the way. Mecham made a sudden left turn onto NW Wasco St where he drove toward families sitting along the curb.
Mecham then plowed through a barricade, nearly striking parade volunteers with officers in pursuit.
Police finally arrested Mecham when he stopped near the intersection of Clackamas St. and Northwest 24th Ave.
Mecham was charged with disorderly conduct, reckless endangerment, and reckless driving. He was also charged with hit and run for an earlier, unrelated, incident.
According to Oregon Live, Mecham is a registered sex offender.
He was convicted in 1999 for first-degree sodomy and attempted first-degree rape in Multnomah County. In 2016, he was convicted of third-degree sexual abuse and third-degree sodomy in Clatsop County.
In 2019, Mecham was cited after driving on a suspended license.
