Judge Allows Arizona Brothers Accused in Police SUV Assault at Sideshow to Attend Treatment Program Amid Prosecution

SAN JOSE, Calif. — A judge has ruled to release two men from Arizona, facing charges for their involvement in an altercation with a police car during a disruptive event, to a South Bay treatment facility while their trial proceeds. Gabe Durbin, 26, and Tyler Durbin, 22, were initially held without bail since their June 19 arrest. However, on Friday, Judge Hector Ramon decided, despite objections from the prosecution, that the rehabilitation facility could better serve their needs pending the court hearings.

During the arraignment, the proposition to allow the suspects to return to Arizona was dismissed by Judge Ramon, reflecting concerns from Deputy District Attorney Timothy Moore that traveling could lower their attendance in court. To mitigate this risk, Ramon ordered electronic monitoring for the Durbins and barred them from accessing any information regarding sideshows.

This legal development follows their alleged assault on a police vehicle after a sideshow—a gathering where drivers perform risky automotive stunts—escalated near Santana Row. Arguments from Deputy Alternate Defender Heather Harris and Deputy Public Defender Patrick Geddes highlighted the brothers’ clean criminal pasts and existing arrangements with a local treatment center, emphasizing their readiness for rehabilitation.

Harris particularly noted Tyler Durbin’s regret over the incident, attributing his actions to impulsive youthful decisions. She reiterated his acknowledgment of involvement and conveyed his remorse directly to the court.

On the other hand, Moore’s motion argued for continued detention, citing their unprovoked attack which he claimed also hindered police response to another serious incident during the sideshow. Moore also questioned the placement in a sober-living facility, pointing out that there was no evidence of substance abuse issues that would necessitate such intervention. He expressed concerns that the facility was being used merely as an alternative to incarceration rather than as a means of addressing any underlined issue related to the Durbins’ conduct.

Deliberations turned towards their minimal ties to the community, marked by brief residences and family connections chiefly anchored in Arizona. Their presence in the vicinity was connected to the clearance of a Salinas storage unit leased by their mother.

Legal proceedings stem from the June 15 incident where a reserve police officer, responding to a bystander hurt in the sideshow, was attacked by the crowd as he approached. The throng encircled the officer’s vehicle, with some assaulting his SUV—footage from the scene captured someone stomping on the hood and smashing the windshield.

Further investigations into the melee resulted in implicating the Durbin brothers, who were later apprehended in San Juan Bautista. Post-arrest, Tyler admitted to hitting the patrol car in the heat of the moment after getting swept up in the sideshow’s chaotic atmosphere, while Gabe denied his presence, despite admitting to traveling to California.

The police endeavor to locate more individuals involved in the disrupts, relying on video evidence circulated on social media platforms. Meanwhile, the legal focus on rehabilitation and strict surveillance underpins the court’s current approach to managing the brothers’ case as it continues to unfold.