2 officers hurt in Los Angeles Lakers victory clashes; downtown property damaged [Updated]

Los Angeles city officials and downtown L.A. merchants were assessing the damage Friday morning after unruly fans celebrating the Lakers victory in the NBA Finals rampaged through the streets around Staples Center.

The Los Angeles Police Department deployed a huge force of officers hoping to prevent the looting and violence that occurred after last year's Lakers championship win. But although the situation in and around Staples Center was calm, there were scattered problems elsewhere downtown.

Crowds broke windows of storefronts, jumped on cars, set at least 15 small fires and threw objects at police.

The LAPD reported 38 arrests. There were also several injuries, but the exact number was not clear.

An LAPD officer was hit in the head by an object apparently thrown at him and suffered a broken nose.

A Los Angeles sheriff's deputy was hit in the head with a rock at a light rail station platform, said Sheriff's Capt. Mike Parker.

At 7th and Flower streets, a crowd of more than 500 people surrounded a Metro bus and numerous people attempted to pull the bus driver out through the driver's side window, Parker said. Deputies deployed tear gas and sting balls, causing the crowd to disperse. They rescued the bus driver and the occupants of the bus.

A taxi driver was attacked, and his taxi was set on fire, Parker said. While rescuing him, rocks and bottles were thrown at deputies, who used sting balls and stun bags to break up the crowd, he said. They rescued the driver and, with the help of LAPD officers, took him out of the area.

Police fired non-lethal rounds to disperse a crowd at Figueroa Street and Venice Boulevard after several small fires were set. Fires were also set at 11th and Hope streets, and at 7th and Flower streets, a taxicab was engulfed in flames.

At least one person was beaten as fights broke out on Flower Street near Olympic Boulevard, officials said. A bicyclist was injured when struck by a Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department vehicle near 11th and Flower streets, according to the Los Angeles Police Department.

At La Bella Cucina, in the 900 block of Figueroa Street, customers began throwing bottles, knocking over tables and stealing bottles of liquor, said restaurant manager Christian LaBella.

"I think it's pretty sad, especially when customers turn on you so quickly," LaBella said late Thursday. "They lost respect for themselves, they lost respect for the Lakers, and they lost respect for the restaurant. It's a shame for L.A."

"A lot of stupid, stupid people out here tonight," added Edward Lizama, 42, who lives in an apartment near 9th and Olive streets. "This isn't people having fun. It's ridiculous."

The violence broke out shortly after the game ended. The LAPD declared an unlawful assembly as people gathered along Figueroa Street near Olympic Boulevard. Hundreds of officers in patrol cars, on foot and on horseback moved in to clear streets and break up the crowds.

At 8th and Figueroa streets, fans and a phalanx of more than two dozen police wearing riot gear and wielding batons faced off. The standoff began when a bunch of fans tore down a traffic sign and then ripped out two newspaper stands and lighted the papers on fire. When the police marched up Figueroa, about two dozen abreast, the crowd slowly receded. Some people were throwing containers of energy drinks, which had been passed out for free after the win.

The YWCA at 11th and Olive was vandalized as taggers marked graffiti up and down the side of a wall. Another person upended a traffic sign and bashed in several windows. [For the record at 9:30 a.m.: A previous version of this post stated that a YMCA was vandalized. It was a YWCA.]

An LAPD cruiser pulled up and shined a light on the men. "Let's go. Night's over," an officer said through a loudspeaker.

-- Sam Allen, Tony Barboza, Hector Becerra, Andrew Blankstein, Paloma Esquivel, Robert Faturechi, Kate Linthicum, Robert J. Lopez, Joel Rubin, Abby Sewell and Ruben Vives

Photo credits: Gary Friedman / Los Angeles Times; Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times

Hi-res photos: A hard-fought series

Photos: Lakers vs. Celtics, Game 7

Photos: Lakers fans at Game 7 of the NBA Finals

Comments

[Standing up for LA!]

This is about Hispanics in East LA and everyone has their own right to say what they want. Yes there are riots in other cities in America but the fact of the matter is we live so close to the border and our hispanic population is much greater. Immigration issue IS ALLOWED to be raised in the scenario. Furthermore, not all hispanics are like this. Living and growing up in LA I can honestly say if there were Zero hispanics there it would have been a peaceful celebration. Its embarassing to say but true and not racist! Bottom line LA can be a nice place to live if it gets cleaned up(see AZ proposal)

[Jessica Guevara]

This is something that should not escalade to an extreme like the one last night. we are on a financial crisis, an fans should not be destroying our city this way. peple need to star being more mature about sports.

[DM]

To "what the hell" who commented that the team remained silent? As I recall, IMMEDIATELY after the win, on Channel 7, a commercial with the Lakers themselves, ie: Kobe; Fisher; Phil; telling the public to celebrate with dignity, be cool etc,. I thought it was a great attempt to keep the peace among the so-called fans. It is not their responsibility to babysit these animals. Where is Villa what-ever-his name is in all of this? Oh I forgot he's probably out at some photo shoot, or some freebie event. No leadership, pretty sad.

[johnn]

Shame! Is this to be expected each year? Who pays for the mayhem? Police and public placed in mortal danger by "happy fans". Give me a break! Arrest, use tear gas and rubber bullets unitl you run out...see if they come back next year! What an out rage....

[Roland]

HEY

YOUR team won! Why burn YOUR city???

[Rafael Perea]

To all those that see this mindless criminal behavior as an excuse to generalize and demonize a race by venting their fears with racist immigration reform quotes (A reform that I believe is necessary through truthful bilateral dialogue and mutual respect).

I would like to remind you that as one of many legal law abiding productive Mexican immigrants that love this land I am OFENDED by your generalizations.
WE ALL work to better the future of our families our communities, OUR country and the world.
These unacceptable behaviors are just the symptoms of a larger socio economic sickness. Created in part by a system of excessive privilege and wealth for some, and a lack of opportunities for others. To blame a race is a simplistic escape from the real issues and thoughtful solutions.
Marginalized and undereducated people regardless of race, will grab any opportunity to express their anger; in this case through the false hopes of a sporting victory.

Let us be clear, there is NO EXCUSE for this behavior, however, we are trying to distract ourselves from the problems with parades and circuses, rather than facing these problems through education and equality. As long as we do this we will continue to re-live the vicious circle of destruction and blame.

[Patrick]

It's a shame that the actions of these idiots is how the rest of the L.A. is judged by outsiders. They give my hometown a bad name and I truly abhor these people for sullying L.A.'s reputation. Complete lack of respect for their city, fellow citizens, and their country. (Some were waving Mexican flags--as they looted, too!--to "celebrate" a Lakers championship? I know the Mexican team won their World Cup match against France earlier, but c'mon!)

I hate having to defend my town and apologize for this kind of behavior to outsiders who generalize and think of ALL of us as unruly knuckleheads. (Take any Dodger game in the pavilion, for example: food, fights, and outright verbal and physical harassment of opposing team fans. As much as I hate the Giants, that's not right to do to their fans.) These are not fans by any means; they're the scum of the Earth. But as the saying goes: what goes around comes around.

All that aside, congrats to the Lakers and the rest of you who celebrated with civility, true pride, and dignity! Keep it classy on Monday, too, please.

[jnp]

I was caught in the "happy time" while driving home on Florance in the Huntington Park area. The "fans" attacked motorists stuck at red lights:swarmed the cars, attempted to roll them over, yelled profanities and the terrorized public was left helpless....all for someone's idea of a good time.
City Hall are you concerned? Who pays for all this mayhem? Mr. Villaraygosa-speak up!

[Yummy D from HB]

The Lakers deserve a parade because they won the NBA Championship.

The playoffs were in LA because the Lakers won the Western Conference. Next year's playoffs will be held in the cities of the winning teams, not the cities with the best manners.

If you think people from Boston are universally well mannered, go watch the Red Sox play the Angels sometime. It ain't pretty. They're even worse than Yankee fans.

There's no telling how polite San Francisco fans will be until they actually win something.

[David]

It's just amazing to me that the Times has described the rioters and vandals as "fans." The article itself described the scene at and around Staples Center as "calm." These were not fans; they were troublemakers who had clearly come into town to wreak havoc; however, if the police had responded any earlier or with more force, in order to protect the law-abiding public and to minimize the inflicted damage, they would have been castigated and criticized for weeks by the Los Angeles Times, the ACLU, and other like-minded organizations. On television this looked like the aftermath of a third-world soccer match. And people ask me why I don't take my kids into Los Angeles for sporting events. Shameful.

[Caitlin]

A) Agreed: No parade. And the Lakers SHOULD make a statement telling those "fans" that it's their fault the parade was cancelled. Use parade money to pay for all the damages and the officers who had SO many better things to be doing.
----
B) No one better blame the increased LAPD presence for "inciting" this. Do metal detectors in the airport make you want to stuff your pockets with switchblades and ammo? Not if you're a sane person. If there hadn't been enough police to handle the crowds, the same people criticizing would be complaining that LADP was careless.
----
C) No one better blame the LAPD for not having *enough* police there, either. Even their detectives were called in to babysit these rioting jerks. Disgraceful.
----
D) I don't care if you're latino, white, or purple: SOMEONE isn't raising their kids right. Teach them right from wrong and to RESPECT their community and its laws!

[chuck2251]

determine the cost of cleaning and the costs associated with the riot. then divide the costs by 38 to determine the fine.
this unlawful behavior occurs becaus we the tax payer allow this. why must we politically correct in the treatment and capture of criminals.

[Mark Johnson]

Looking at the IP addresses to see where these angry and bitter comments are coming from... I see many of them coming from the East Coast.

Hmmmm... bitter Celtics fans maybe?! Boston has had it's share of riots over the years. Get over it Boston... you guys lost and your city isn't perfect either! Remember what happened in Boston in 2004 and 2008? Plus... I see a lot of Caucasians rioting in those photos guys, ok!

[carlos]

I am not from the east cost. I live in LA and there is no excuse for making my city look class less. It is said to say that my people, Hispanic, where those that acted like human escrement. I don't want to here my people complaint when laws such as the ones in Arizona are create. I agree that that law was singeling out a particular ethnic group. However, I do not blame them where I see this happening. This is not a race issue it is a safety issue. When you are going to acted like terrorist (for lack of better term I will not say child because children act better than this) then you should get treated like one.

[Safety Man]

Im sorry, but the only people that were shown on my television tearing up everything were the mexicans. They must have sensored all the other nationalities out.

[d]

"THIS IS WHY WE CAN'T HAVE NICE THINGS!"

[giley1]

How about Zero tolerance with mobsters/celebrants at any sports event. The LAPD was lucky on this one but there was no reason for anyone getting hurt or property destroyed period. Sancturary cities promote lawlessness by the very nature that when you are here illegally there is no loyalty to the city, state our country. Chief Beck was wrong for condeming Arizonas' SB-1071 and the city for boycotting the state. Lawlessness promotes more lawlessness.

[Debbie]

why do they always have to distroy things, these people are nothing but idiots. I think we should ban the basketball finals from being played in LA since so many morons live here. You don't see baseball fans acting that way

[DelWebb]

THE MEXICANS ARE HERE!

[jon]

Where is Al Sharpton?

[viktor]

I learned everything I need to know about the LA demographic from reading this article. Visiting and spending my $$$ in LA is off my bucket list.