Video taken by witnesses at Hill and 4th streets show two separate incidents. In one, a female officer was struck in the head by a young man or teen with a round metal-looking object, apparently a snare drum, and then ran off. The officer, who was wearing a helmet, was taken to the hospital.
"This was a cowardly attack from the rear, entirely unprovoked that could have seriously injured this young police officer and ended her career, and even ended her life," Los Angeles Police Chief Charlie Beck said. "There were thousands of people who did this the right way and they got their message across, and individuals like this detract from that."
The officer, a four-year veteran from the West Valley Division, suffered what Beck called a semi-concussion. The blow was so forceful, it dented her helmet.
In the other incident, a wooden palette was used to rush police from behind. When police turned around, the culprits had faded into the crowd.
The splinter group of protesters were not permitted to march on the street they were on. Demonstrators hurled expletives and decried police brutality before a few protesters took action against police.
Beck praised the reserve exercised by officers.
Anyone with information is asked to call police at (877) LAPD-24-7.
