Lakers celebration turns rowdy; police disperse crowd from Staples Center [Updated]
Hundreds of boisterous fans converged on the Staples Center after the Lakers' victory, prompting the Los Angeles Police Department to call a tactical alert and send more officers to the area.
LAPD Deputy Chief Sergio Diaz said the department ordered the crowd to disperse just before 9 p.m. after several incidents in which the crowd attempted to start bonfires, set off fireworks and tear down signs and tree branches.
A few people attempted to jump onto police cars, but officers pushed them away.
Diaz said that there has been some rowdy behavior but that the crowd is peaceful and he hopes they can be moved out without major incident. In 2000, the Lakers' championship victory sparked a melee in the same area.
There are currently three major celebrations: In addition to Staples, there are smaller celebrations going on in the Crenshaw District and East L.A. Sheriff's deputies were out in force in East Los Angeles, where some fans got out of hand after a Lakers victory last week.
Celebrants were on the streets cheering and setting off some fireworks, but deputies reported no major problems. The Crenshaw celebration was also peaceful, according to the LAPD.
[Updated at 9:30 p.m.: Much of the crowd has left the Staples Center area, but the LAPD was still dealing with trouble spots.
On 12th Street, LAPD motorcycle officers moved in after fans began rocking cars and throwing traffic flares. Other groups of people were blocking entrances to the 110 Freeway and running onto the onramps. There were no reports of major injuries or damage.]
[Updated at 9:40 p.m. Diaz said there were two arrests but no reported injuries to police or civilians.]
[Updated at 10:04 p.m. The LAPD continued to deal with unruly behavior from crowds around Staples Center. A group of people vandalized an MTA bus and continued to set small fires. A group of fans walked up the onramp of the 110 Freeway. The LAPD said four people have been arrested.]
[Updated at 10:20 p.m. The crowd around Staples Center was lessening, but there continued to be reports of problems. A window was broken at a shoe store near the center, and crowds ran through a gas station mini-mart. LAPD officials reported people tagging signs and walls.The situation was worsened as Laker fans in cars poured into the South Park area, some waving Laker flags and cheering. The LAPD was attempting to post officers at various intersections to restore calm.]
As the buzzer rang on the Lakers' 99-86 victory over the Orlando Magic in the NBA Finals, revelers spilled from the ESPN Zone restaurant out onto Chick Hearn Court in front of Staples Center.
Some climbed the statues of Earvin "Magic" Johnson and Oscar De La Hoya, whooping and holding Kobe Bryant jerseys aloft.
"I'm so excited, excited, excited," said a red-faced Louis Merida, a 21-year old UC Riverside student. "I don't even know what to say! I don't even know what to say!"
"It feels great," Merida said. "No one can hate on Kobe anymore, because he's won a championship without Shaq."
Nearby, LAPD Police Chief William J. Bratton was surrounded by fans who jumped up and down and shook his hand, shouting: "Chief of police, chief of police!"
-- Ari B. Bloomekatz at Staples Center and Andrew Blankstein
EDITOR'S PICKS:
Go Laaaaaaaaaaaaa-kersssssssssssss!!!!
Posted by: Fixed Gear | June 14, 2009 at 10:05 PM
LAPD Deputy Chief Sergio Diaz should be severly reprimanded by the Police Commission and Chief Bratton for allowing numerous black/white squad cars to be left unattended and unguarded by uniform personnel. As we all witnessed, via KCAL9 News, there were numerous gang bangers (mexican of course) who decided to vandalize more than just several squad cars. This is unacceptable and should have been forcasted prior to and during this melee. Their is no excuse this time by the infamous LAPD for not protecting our taxpayer funded property..
Posted by: SgtJohnMStryker | June 14, 2009 at 10:07 PM
Lakers Win, Savages destroy property and throw rocks at police officers. Gotta love LA....
Posted by: FLYINREVO | June 14, 2009 at 10:08 PM
Big up LAKERS!!! '09 NBA CHAMPS!!! Hope y'all stay together!!!
Posted by: JoeyChurches | June 14, 2009 at 10:08 PM
The Laker's Fans of Los Angeles have once again proven that they are ignorant disrespectful morons. This is the second time that I'd been in L.A. when crowds of thugs emerge around Staples Center in what appears to be some type of a riot. Is it rebelion? Rebilion over what? I mean, my team wins so I think I'll go destroy some city property, turn over a bus or a cop car. This behavior defies logic. It is embarassing for the team and for the city of L.A. What the x@&$ is wrong with these people? There is no hope for future generations if this crap is their role models.
Posted by: Marsha M. | June 14, 2009 at 10:10 PM
Im all for Celebrating but these Idiots get too out of hand....Shoot them
Posted by: Kobe | June 14, 2009 at 10:27 PM
Gooo Lakers! Great job!
Posted by: Home Insurance San DIego | June 14, 2009 at 10:27 PM
Fans are damaging personal and city property and the response is "go Lakers"? I have never been so proud to not be a basketball fan.
Posted by: Why? | June 14, 2009 at 10:50 PM
GREAT to celebrate ANOTHER Lakers victory.
BUt why do a small group of idiots have to mess it up for the whole city.
Why start fires?? Why break windows??
What does this accomplish and how does this celebrate a win??
Posted by: David | June 14, 2009 at 10:55 PM
Typical Lakers fan...celebrate the city's victory by vandalizing a part of it! Go knucklehead fans!
Posted by: TheTruth | June 14, 2009 at 10:55 PM
It's JUST basketball, for heaven's sakes! Even if it were football (or baseball), it's scary when fans use a win as an excuse for bad behavior.
I hope the police catch all the lawbreakers.
Posted by: Alex Tronik | June 14, 2009 at 11:02 PM
Shame that this is how some people choose to celebrate a victory. I don't care about the game, but I care about my city.
Posted by: JM | June 14, 2009 at 11:02 PM
If you are one of those idiots who take this game so seriously that you have to vandalize something, please get sterilized ASAP so you can't pass your stupidity on to a child.
Posted by: anthony | June 14, 2009 at 11:03 PM
Check it out:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L8yqNEfMCOY
Posted by: Nancy | June 14, 2009 at 11:16 PM
This was disgusting to watch on television. Bratton calls them knuckleheads, but they are nothing short of criminals and thugs, inciting and threatening our public and police officers. The waving of flags looked more like a May Day rally than a laker win, was that really the purpose (the Laker's won?) or just an excuse to tag vehicles, start fires, break windows of cars, storefronts, find the parents and make them pay all the damages~enough is enough! Let the police do their job like they used to do instead of tip toeing around these criminals. No to a parade, why put the law abiding citizens and buisinesses through this.
Posted by: trae | June 14, 2009 at 11:16 PM
WOW.....some real "brilliant" fans we have here, eh?!!
'Course, they don't have to worry about getting home and getting some sleep for their job the next day....they DON'T work!
Afterall, what boss would hire THAT kind of idiot?!!
Posted by: Kate | June 14, 2009 at 11:39 PM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fC7w6WQqEgo
this was recorded from my room
Posted by: vishnu | June 15, 2009 at 12:05 AM
Any chance the courts will make the rowdy's pick up the tab for repairs and cleanup?
Posted by: Robert Chapman | June 15, 2009 at 12:52 AM
I don't even know what to say, I don't even know what to say! I DONT EVEN KNOW WHAT TO SAY!!@#!$
It's a group of millionaires bouncing a leather ball around. What is there really to say?
Posted by: Steven | June 15, 2009 at 07:08 AM
God help the city if the Dodgers win the world series this year.
Posted by: Matt | June 15, 2009 at 07:53 AM
@Sgt.JMS. Its not Chief Diaz's fault, the mayor has tied the hands of law enforcement, Maybe the ACLU has scared the Bejesus out of him, or he is so entrenched with protecting some no matter what they do.
You may very well know, that if the Mayor and Chief dont give the green light, to protect and serve. you get exactly what you see.
The gangs have gotten big and dangerous enough to paralyze our officials, kind of reminds me of 911 when Prez. Bush was first told about the attacks.
Brass & suits are afraid of the potential uprising by gang members and drug lords across the city. That is the only reason I can think of, that would make them stand on the sidelines and watch the county go bust.
It may take the feds to move in and take over, and deputize locals to regain control of the city's criminal element, because local management is conceding to the threats.
Posted by: CHANGE | June 15, 2009 at 08:05 AM
Great! The mayor has chosen Wednesday for LA's next riot. Note to Bratton: No rubber bullets.
Posted by: Tony | June 15, 2009 at 08:33 AM
You don't know what to say but I do......NO CLASS! NO CLASS! NO CLASS! Why is it that whenever LA wins a championship it has to riot. One simple answer, NO CLASS! In 1994 the NY Rangers won the championship after 54 years and not a problem. Just goes to show what your community is made of...
Posted by: John Q. Public | June 15, 2009 at 01:06 PM
This is ridiculous! I'm just as happy and excited about the Lakers winning the championship as much as the next huge Lakers fan, but to go out destroying public property and setting bonfires makes those people so uncivilized and they bring so much shame of the city of LA (and maybe even our finals mvp)!! They are all nothing but complete idiots! Destroying property and starting bonfires....POINTLESS!! Scream, jump up and down, wave the flag, then go home! How hard is that?!? Those retards should of gotten fined!!
Posted by: class_of_2009 | June 15, 2009 at 06:48 PM
Those were'nt Laker fans they were freakin soccer fans!
Posted by: Jack Ace | June 16, 2009 at 04:55 PM