8 arrested in latest Ferguson protest in Los Angeles

LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- Eight people were arrested near Beverly Boulevard and Alvarado Street Friday night during a protest against the Ferguson shooting case in Missouri.

A crowd of about 80 protesters was surrounded by LAPD officers after a march through downtown Los Angeles Friday night. The intersection of Beverly and Alvarado was blocked by pedestrians, protesters, police officers and onlookers, but some traffic was getting through.

By 7:45 p.m., police had the intersection cleared and traffic was moving normally. Some people with their hands bound were being led away by police officers.

Eight people were arrested: two were arrested for outstanding warrants; five for failure to obey a lawful order; and one for battery on a police officer.

People gathered at Grand Park at 3 p.m. to begin a march to protest the Ferguson grand jury decision not to indict police officer Darren Wilson in the fatal shooting of Michael Brown.

The crowd began marching westbound on Beverly, then turned north on Alvarado before being surrounded by LAPD officers wearing riot gear.

Some protesters had been walking and riding bicycles in the street. They were ordered to remain on sidewalks.

The LAPD went on citywide tactical alert at 1 p.m. ahead of at least one anticipated Ferguson-related protest in L.A.

More than 300 people have been arrested in protests in Los Angeles this week. About 145 people were arrested Wednesday night for unlawful assembly. Others were arrested Wednesday morning for blocking traffic on the 101 Freeway and spraying graffiti on lanes. Freeway lanes were blocked by protesters on Monday and Tuesday nights as well.

Los Angeles-area protest organizers have called for a federal investigation into the fatal shooting of unarmed 18-year-old Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri, after a grand jury declined to indict officer Darren Wilson for the killing.

About a dozen people held a news conference Friday afternoon to speak out against arrests police made Wednesday night at Hope and 6th in downtown Los Angeles. Many of those arrested were let out early on Thursday.

One of the speakers claimed her arm was bruised by a police officer.

"After an hour of being held on the street, I was arrested for disturbing the peace. I was in complete shock. I have never been arrested before. I was not part of the protest, and I had no idea that I could ever be arrested for being on the sidewalk in my own neighborhood," said Leigh Wyley.

"There were over a hundred of us: protesters, children, students, women, bar-hoppers, people on their way home from work, onlookers and the press. Most of us were on the sidewalk with our arms raised over our heads," said Kristin Delfs, who was arrested Wednesday night. "I was held for over 13 hours at $5,000 bail, and I was denied the right to post that bail."

Police officials said they have the lawful right to make the arrests after protesters refused to disperse after being ordered to do so.

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