Dozens arrested during Lakers' victory celebration

At least 42 people were arrested and 43 detained during a raucous celebration outside Staples Center after the Laker's NBA Finals victory Thursday night, authorities said.

The arrests included 11 people for alleged public drunkenness, three on suspicion of inciting a riot, seven on charges of assault on a peace officer, four on charges of disturbing the peace and one for alleged battery, police said. Six others were arrested for alleged vandalism, two for allegedly throwing objects at a vehicle, two on suspicion of resisting arrest and three for outstanding warrants. 
 
Despite a massive police presence, the scene outside Staples Center after the Lakers 83-79 victory over the Boston Celtics became unruly, with some in the crowd hurling bottles and other objects at police, breaking windows of businesses and setting dumpsters and vehicles on fire along Figueroa Street. Police fired non-lethal rounds to disperse the crowd.  
 
Robert Reitz, office manager of Ready Productions Inc., a printing company at the corner of 12th and Olive streets, said six windows of his store were broken, including one with a traffic cone stuffed into it. He said he discovered the vandalism when he arrived at work at 7:30 a.m. Friday.

“The Lakers cost the city more than they’re worth,” said Reitz, who had not done an estimate of the damage. “I was kind of hoping the other team would win so this wouldn’t happen.”

-- Andrew Blankstein and Abby Sewell

Hi-res photos: A hard-fought series

Photos: Lakers vs. Celtics, Game 7

Photos: Lakers fans at Game 7 of the NBA Finals

Comments

[920]

Those people arrested are not true Laker fans. They are true THUGS AND CRIMINALS and should be locked up for an extensive amount of time.

[Mark Johnson]

Can the LAPD or L.A. Sheriff's Department use water cannons on the crowd? I would think that they could. It's non-lethal and makes people calm down. Hard to riot when you're sopping wet and slipping around!

Hey... they could even use those helicopters that are used for forest fires to douse the crowd and disperse them! If they don't obey the order to disperse... you just dump the water on them and put out any fires nearby in the process! Think about it LAPD and LASD. ;)

[Schigolch]

That won't happen.

[Sandra Garratt]

I am so sorry to hear of your losses. I live and have a small business downtown and it was out of control. It was impossible to sleep with all the noise. The Lakers should pay for everything, they have the money. They seem more like BP to me then a champion sport team. I question the value of this sort of fan base. Why is pro sports fan violence tolerated at all? You never see this sort of destruction after the Grammys, Oscars or Emmys events. Do Music Center patrons run screaming through the streets of LA after concerts burning cars and destroying property and trashing the city?Why does the city continue to kow tow to sports thugs who contribute little if anything to the city of LA. I totally dread the parade Monday. Can I bill the lakers for my loss of productive work time and loss of business hmmmm?
Sandra Garratt-Los Angeles

[Frstlymil]

I think its an excuse -- whether the Lakers won or lost there would still be a minority of idiots who think it is hilarious to use the championships as an opportunity to burn down their own city, bottle bomb the police, walk onto the 101 freeway -- breaking the windows of cars as they walk into traffic -- setting fires, doing damage to businesses. I think if, rather than arresting these "people" for vandalism, or rioting, or assault on a police officer that if they all get hauled in and charged with domestic terrorism -- and by definition, that's what they are doing -- then maybe knowing that is the outcome of their actions we can finally enjoy a win by our home team without it being sullied by a bunch of thugs who were raised wrong.

[Joe G]

No you cannot bill the Lakers for your inability to be productive the day after some people get together without the endorsement of the Lakers organization and trash the streets.

And to compare the Lakers to BP is just a poor comparison. Really? Come on now?

BP is causing billions of dollars in damage...the people roaming the streets last night, maybe cost millions...maybe. And the Lakers didn't even cause it...how about blaming the cops who should have been more prepared for it.

They knew that crowds get out of hand, and they didn't handle it.

[Valerie Anzueto]

You can't blame the players for stupid fans! That's the most ignorant statement, you want them to pay hhmm, you must have not been watching the game because they made PSA asking fans to celebrate responsibly. Fyi laker fans aren't the worst or have you never seen soccer it can get wild. Geez, no matter what individuals are responsible for their individual actions. Stop stereotyping and grouping people.

[JD]

Actually, this is a great opportunity for the criminal justice system to incarcerate a large number of clueless individuals who are undoubtedly on the fast track to prison on a daily basis. Highly cost-effective, as they gather in one place under the eyes of the police. It's all up to the willingness of the system to hammer these clowns.

[Hussain]

Robert Reitz is an idiot and a poor manager!!!!!

If he suspected there would be an issue after the game he and his company and all the other small businesses should have put their money in a pot and could have hired guards for three hours to protect the premises. How much could that have cost???????

The problem probably last two hours at best so three hours of extra security cost much less than 6 broken windows. There is such a thing as the cost of doing business.

You ALL can always move your business, if being in such proximity to Staples is really an issue. Next time protect yourselves from losses and stop complaining!!!!!! This nothing new to this city or any other!!!!!!!

To say the Lakers cost the City of L.A. more than they are worth is plan stupid. The focus on the city for the last two weeks just from the finals is worth more than the city could possibly paid to have such attention.

For us who are true Laker fans and have no desire to act out, we are sorry for those of us who cannot seem to control their delight. But why are you blaming the Lakers, they just play basketball. They do not control fans, they are the best in the world at what they do.

The Lakers deserve a celebration before taking that well deserved vacation, as do the fans and the city of Los Angeles. If it were the Dodgers or the Angeles it would be no different................I was in L.A. when the Raiders won....do you recall that celebration?????