During a day of protests and violence in Los Angeles, dozens of people were arrested on Sunday and charged with various offences, including attempted murder and arson.
The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, California Highway Patrol, and Los Angeles Police Department made 42 arrests in total, the LAPD reported early Monday. Among the alleged offences were attempted murder, looting, arson, failure to disperse, and assault on a police officer with a deadly weapon.
According to the LAPD, 21 people were taken into custody on Sunday after a suspect in an attempted murder case allegedly used a Molotov cocktail against officers.
The police department also said in a statement that five officers and five LAPD horses were hurt while enforcing crowd control.
“This violence that I’ve seen is disgusting,” LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell stated. “It’s escalated now. What we saw the first night was bad. What we’ve seen subsequent to that is getting increasingly worse and more violent.”
According to McDonnell, people also aimed commercial-grade fireworks at police.
“That can kill you,” he stated.
The arrests took place amid protests over recent federal immigration raids in Southern California, which have caused unrest in Los Angeles for three days in a row. Over the weekend, at least 50 arrests were reported.
After early-afternoon demonstrations outside a federal detention facility in downtown Los Angeles, tensions escalated when the group fled the area and onto the 101 Freeway after being confronted by police.
People threw rocks, bottles, and other items at patrol cars and police officers. According to McDonnell, some individuals broke up larger rocks they carried in their backpacks and threw them at police officers.
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“I’ve seen civil unrest before, and generally, the second and third days are more violence,” McDonnell stated.
According to McDonnell, the department was dealing with attacks on officers that involved Molotov cocktails, hammers, and stones because the number of protesters was overwhelming them. According to the LAPD, looters broke into a shoe store and other establishments between Sixth Street and Broadway on Sunday, and several Waymo driverless cars were set on fire.
Demonstrators received a cell phone alert from the LAPD regarding an illegal gathering in the downtown Los Angeles area.
On Monday, there will be a fourth day of protests against ICE operations.
“We recognize that immigration enforcement operations can cause a deep fear and anxiety, particularly in immigrant communities,” McDonnell stated. “That’s why we’re committed to transparency, accountability and treating every Angeleno with respect, regardless of their immigration status.
“Our job is to keep everyone safe. We will continue to support peaceful protests and enforce the law on criminal action. The LAPD supports and protects the First Amendment right to free speech We’re committed to treating every Angeleno with respect, regardless of their immigration status.”
Nathan Hochman, the district attorney for Los Angeles County, told McDonnell that he would bring charges if necessary.
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Approximately 300 members of the federalised National Guard were sent to federal properties in Los Angeles, including the LA Metropolitan Detention Centre downtown, on Sunday morning.
Following months of close collaboration during the Palisades Fire that broke out on January 7, McDonnell said the LAPD and the National Guard have a very positive relationship.
Members of the National Guard hurled smoke grenades and tear gas canisters at the protesters on Alameda Street on Sunday. After a short break, the crowd came back a few minutes later.
President Trump is accused by Newsom of attempting to create a spectacle instead of responding to a “legitimate need.” Normally, Newsom only deploys the California National Guard in response to a request from local law enforcement.
Later, the governor claimed to have formally asked the Trump administration to withdraw its illegal troop deployment in Los Angeles County and give the troops back to him.
“We didn’t have a problem until Trump got involved,” Newsom stated. By escalating tensions and diverting resources from areas where they are truly needed, this constitutes a grave violation of state sovereignty.
“Rescind the order. Return control to California.”
For what seems to be the first time in decades, a state’s National Guard was called into action without the governor’s consent.
