Kids Nearly Run Over At Thanksgiving Parade, Arrest Made: Police

SILVER SPRING, MD — A man was arrested after police say he shouted obscenities and nearly ran over children on his bicycle during the Montgomery County Thanksgiving Parade Saturday afternoon.

The incident happened just before noon, near the intersection of Georgia and Silver Spring avenues. The man could be seen riding his bicycle on the sidewalk, against traffic, cursing at parade spectators and nearly hitting small children who were in his way.

Montgomery County Police Sgt. James Reed said the man accused children of stealing his candy. At the parade, marching units were handing out candy to young children.

When police confronted the man and asked him to sit down, he "grew more belligerent" and tried to push through the group of officers, according to a witness.

Patch has exclusive videos of the arrest, which appears to show at least five Montgomery County police officers trying to hold down the uncooperative man.

Multiple officers were injured during the struggle, including one who said she "had a busted tooth" and another who complained of a hurt wrist.

Exclusive Patch video of a man getting arrested at the #MoCoThanksParade. A little while earlier, the man could be heard shouting obscenities at spectators and nearly running over kids with his bicycle. pic.twitter.com/rm7ZmpchBv
— Alessia Grunberger (@adgrunberger) November 23, 2019

More exclusive Patch video of the handcuffed man getting into a police cruiser at the #MoCoThanksParade ... several officers were injured during the arrest, including one who said she had a “busted tooth.” pic.twitter.com/SfMicm4Met
— Alessia Grunberger (@adgrunberger) November 23, 2019

Hundreds of people gathered in downtown Silver Spring on Saturday for the Montgomery County Thanksgiving Parade. As the only Thanksgiving parade in the D.C. metro area, the parade route started at Ellsworth Drive and Fenton Street and proceeded south on Georgia Avenue, ending at Silver Spring Avenue.

This year's parade featured more than 100 marching units — including college and high school marching bands, pageant winners, inflatable nutcrackers and snowmen, performing dog and animal rescue groups, and 12-foot holiday floats.