Unlawful assembly was declared due to people throwing objects at officers, LAPD Deputy Chief says
An unlawful assembly was declared in downtown Los Angeles due to demonstrators throwing bottles, rocks and other objects at officers, the Los Angeles Police Department's Deputy Chief Emada Tingirides said.
"We started off with 20 to 30,000 participants at its peak and the protest was peaceful," Tingirides said. "Not until rocks and bottles and projectiles were being thrown at our officers did we initiate crowd control tactics in an effort to bring peace and calmness in that area and protect the children and families and protesters that were there to express the first amendment."
The dispersal order was issued just before 4 p.m. after a crowd in the 300 block of Los Angeles Street began blocking traffic.They had a position of advantage and began throwing objects at the officers.
That is when the incident commander declared an unlawful assembly. LAPD administered less lethal and the crowd began to disperse.
Tingirides said LAPD carried out crowd control tactics alongside the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department in an effort to gain compliance from the group that ignored the initial dispersal order.
There were two occasions where LAFD had to go in and render aid to individuals, but when crowds don't disperse, it makes it difficult for them to do their job, she said.
The LAPD is fully mobilized, meaning days off were canceled for officers. With their partnership with the LASD and CHP, LAPD said they have enough resources to mitigate the crowd.
When asked if the 8 p.m. curfew was working, Tingirides said yes.
"Once the mayor initiated this curfew, we have seen a decrease in burglaries and looting," she said. "In fact, we have not had one burglary or looting incident in four days since the mayor instituted the curfew in the downtown L.A. area."
