2 officers hurt in Los Angeles Lakers victory clashes; downtown property damaged

latimesblogs.latimes.com

June 18, 2010

Los Angeles city officials and downtown L.A. merchants were assessing the damage Friday morning after unruly fans celebrating the Lakers victory in the NBA Finals rampaged through the streets around Staples Center.

The Los Angeles Police Department deployed a huge force of officers hoping to prevent the looting and violence that occurred after last year’s Lakers championship win. But although the situation in and around Staples Center was calm, there were scattered problems elsewhere downtown.

Crowds broke windows of storefronts, jumped on cars, set at least 15 small fires and threw objects at police.

The LAPD reported 38 arrests. There were also several injuries, but the exact number was not clear.

An LAPD officer was hit in the head by an object apparently thrown at him and suffered a broken nose.

A Los Angeles sheriff’s deputy was hit in the head with a rock at a light rail station platform, said Sheriff’s Capt. Mike Parker.

At 7th and Flower streets, a crowd of more than 500 people surrounded a Metro bus and numerous people attempted to pull the bus driver out through the driver’s side window, Parker said. Deputies deployed tear gas and sting balls, causing the crowd to disperse. They rescued the bus driver and the occupants of the bus.

A taxi driver was attacked, and his taxi was set on fire, Parker said. While rescuing him, rocks and bottles were thrown at deputies, who used sting balls and stun bags to break up the crowd, he said. They rescued the driver and, with the help of LAPD officers, took him out of the area.

Police fired non-lethal rounds to disperse a crowd at Figueroa Street and Venice Boulevard after several small fires were set. Fires were also set at 11th and Hope streets, and at 7th and Flower streets, a taxicab was engulfed in flames.

At least one person was beaten as fights broke out on Flower Street near Olympic Boulevard, officials said. A bicyclist was injured when struck by a Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department vehicle near 11th and Flower streets, according to the Los Angeles Police Department.

At La Bella Cucina, in the 900 block of Figueroa Street, customers began throwing bottles, knocking over tables and stealing bottles of liquor, said restaurant manager Christian LaBella.

« I think it’s pretty sad, especially when customers turn on you so quickly, » LaBella said late Thursday. « They lost respect for themselves, they lost respect for the Lakers, and they lost respect for the restaurant. It’s a shame for L.A. »

« A lot of stupid, stupid people out here tonight, » added Edward Lizama, 42, who lives in an apartment near 9th and Olive streets. « This isn’t people having fun. It’s ridiculous. »

The violence broke out shortly after the game ended. The LAPD declared an unlawful assembly as people gathered along Figueroa Street near Olympic Boulevard. Hundreds of officers in patrol cars, on foot and on horseback moved in to clear streets and break up the crowds.

At 8th and Figueroa streets, fans and a phalanx of more than two dozen police wearing riot gear and wielding batons faced off. The standoff began when a bunch of fans tore down a traffic sign and then ripped out two newspaper stands and lighted the papers on fire. When the police marched up Figueroa, about two dozen abreast, the crowd slowly receded. Some people were throwing containers of energy drinks, which had been passed out for free after the win.

The YWCA at 11th and Olive was vandalized as taggers marked graffiti up and down the side of a wall. Another person upended a traffic sign and bashed in several windows. [For the record at 9:30 a.m.: A previous version of this post stated that a YMCA was vandalized. It was a YWCA.]

An LAPD cruiser pulled up and shined a light on the men. « Let’s go. Night’s over, » an officer said through a loudspeaker.

— Sam Allen, Tony Barboza, Hector Becerra, Andrew Blankstein, Paloma Esquivel, Robert Faturechi, Kate Linthicum, Robert J. Lopez, Joel Rubin, Abby Sewell and Ruben Vives

Over 40 Laker fans arrested for post-game violence

AFP

18 06 2010

LOS ANGELES — More than 40 people were arrested following the Los Angeles Lakers game seven win over the Boston Celtics as rowdy revellers burned vehicles, hurled objects at police and broke windows.

Police said Laker fans were arrested for a variety of offences including some for « inciting a riot » as pockets of trouble broke out in Los Angeles rundown downtown core.

The violence marred the post-game celebrations after the Lakers rallied from a 13-point deficit to beat the Celtics Thursday at Staples Center arena to claim their second straight National Basketball Association title.

The Lakers have scheduled a victory parade for Monday and officials are urging basketball fans to avoid the type of violence that took place Thursday night, injuring at least eight people.

While the violence wasn’t widespread it did keep police and firefighters on their toes as they responded to three vehicle fires and 15 rubbish fires around the Staples Center arena.

Police said motorists were also harassed as they tried to leave the area and vandals spray painted buildings.

Police said most of the arrests were for public drunkenness, vandalism and inciting a riot. Two people were also arrested for assaulting a peace officer.

Police chief Charlie Beck said one police officer suffered a broken nose after being struck in the face by an object.

At one point a city transit bus was surrounded by a mob of 500 people before police arrived and broke up the crowd.

Law enforcement had stepped up vehicle, foot and on horseback patrols and closed streets around Staples Center this year after last year’s celebration also got out of hand.

The numbers of arrests were up this year from the eight in 2009, but so was the police presence.

Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa had urged people to stay home unless they had tickets to the game, but thousands of ticket-less fans showed up anyway.

County supervisor Mike Antonovich said the troublemakers should be punished.

« Rioters should be prosecuted vigorously, allowed no plea bargains, required to serve full sentences and make restitution for damages, » he said.

Los Angeles police arrest 38 after Lakers capture championship | NBA

The Associated Press

Friday, June 18, 2010

A jubilant celebration after the Los Angeles Lakers’ NBA title Thursday night turned rowdy in scattered sections of the city, with raucous revelers hurling rocks and bottles at police, setting fires and jumping on vehicles. Police spokesman Cleon Joseph said 38 people had been arrested, most for public intoxication and others for vandalism and inciting a riot.

LOS ANGELES — A jubilant celebration after the Los Angeles Lakers won the league championship Thursday night turned rowdy in scattered sections of the city, with revelers hurling rocks and bottles at police, setting fires and jumping on vehicles.

Police spokesman Cleon Joseph said Friday 38 people had been arrested, most for public intoxication and others for vandalism and inciting a riot.

Television news footage showed one man being beaten and a car set on fire. Debris and broken glass lined the streets.

Several people were seen jumping on a taxi as it attempted to leave the area near Staples Center after the Lakers beat the Boston Celtics 83-79 in Game 7 of the best-of-seven NBA Finals. Someone opened a rear door of the vehicle while others rocked it.

Hundreds of officers massed around Staples Center before the game, aiming to prevent a repeat of the violence after the Lakers’ championship victory last year.

Despite the massive deployment, pockets of violence erupted in neighborhoods near the arena.

Los Angeles firefighters responded to 37 incidents within a half-mile of the arena in three hours, spokesman Brian Humphrey said. Eight people were taken to hospitals.

Partisans en feu

radio-canada.ca

vendredi 18 juin 2010

Les célébrations entourant la conquête du championnat des Lakers ont tourné à l’émeute dans les rues de Los Angeles.

Des centaines de policiers étaient massés autour du Staples Center pour le septième et décisif match de finale de la NBA pour prévenir une reprise des débordements de 2009.

La mesure n’a cependant pas suffi. Des feux ont été allumés aux quatre coins de la ville, des fenêtres de commerce ont été fracassées des véhicules incendiés et des projectiles ont été lancés sur les policiers.

En tout, 38 personnes ont été arrêtées, a indiqué le lieutenant de la police de Los Angeles John Romero.

Les méfaits allaient de l’intoxication publique au vandalisme et à l’incitation à l’émeute.

Les Lakers de Los Angeles ont vaincu les Celtics de Boston 83-79.

~ par Alain Bertho sur 19 juin 2010.

Publié dans émeutes, riots