Lakers celebration turns ugly as police, motorists come under attack

The Los Angeles Lakers victory in the NBA championships ended on a sour note as Los Angeles Police Department officers clashed with rowdy fans.

The LAPD brought large numbers of officers into the Staples Center area hoping to avoid a repeat of last year's looting and violence. But fans went on a rampage in some parts of downtown L.A., throwing rocks, shattering windows, rocking cars and setting fire to at least one vehicle and several other objects.

At Figueroa Street and Venice Boulevard, police fired less-than-lethal rounds at fans after they overturned a city parking enforcement vehicle and set fire to orange fire cones. On the LAPD's tactical frequency, officers at the intersection were heard requesting permission to fire  projectiles at a group of men throwing chunks of concrete at them. The permission was granted.

Among other incidents:

--The YMCA at 11th and Olive was attacked by crowds who smashed windows and tagged walls with graffiti.

--Crowds rocked and jumped on cars around Figueroa Street and nearby roads.

--A KCAL-TV Channel 9 news van was attacked by a crowd, which smashed its windows.

--Groups were seen in several downtown locations knocking down news racks, throwing bottles at officers, setting off firecrackers and defacing signs.

The LAPD was making numerous arrests, but the exact number was not immediately available.

Police were able to clear the areas around Staples Center and the L.A. Live shopping complex. But the crowds moved into surrounding neighborhoods, causing problems. Some fans ran onto the freeway.

Police Chief Charlie Beck expressed general satisfaction with the way the massive police force was handling the challenge of dispersing 20,000 people and tamping down several violent groups.

"Obviously, some people didn't heed our admonishments to celebrate safely, but unlike last year this has never gotten out of control. This has been a controlled exercise in crowd control. Unfortunately, we've had to manage some people more than we would have wanted."

--Robert Faturechi, Kate Linthicum, Andrew Blankstein, Ruben Vives, Abby Sewell, Sam Allen, and Hector Becerra.

Comments

[friend]

Maybe it time here for some Arizona type laws.

[Matt]

Screw the Lakers and there fans. This is completely embarrassing. The fans should be ashamed of themselves. I hope the Lakers are never allowed to play again

[Who are the Lakers etal?]

And why on earth does anyone care about a bunch of boys playing ball?

ZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Soon, the ground will shake that cesspool back into the Pacific. Then the real party begins in Arizona with beach front property.

[steve]

What is the average IQ of an LA resident?

[1070]

This is what happens when you promote sanctuary cities and refuse to enforce immigration laws. You get third-world thugs, who cannot even behave like human beings after a basketball game.

California is lost....

[Mitch Haase]

Looks like a whole lot of illegals causing trouble. Jan Brewer needs to help the idiots in CA restore order to their state.

[mesndblues]

Thug sport, thug fans, thug president.

[Aunt Bee]

I'm so glad I left in 1992 after the King riots ... LA is done, it's Mexico City and will never be the LA of the 1960's when it was fun.

[Drew (Boston)]

What was the race of the group of hooligans involved in trashing cars and causing the scene, just wondering.

[jstan442]

what a bunch of idiots-are'nt we suppose to be evolving as a species? if this is the 'fittest' of who we are than expect the world to go sown fast!we seem to be devolving instead-this was only a game!

[Roddy Piper]

Funny who this sort of thing never happens in states who allow "right-to-carry" - take the guns away from the law-abiding and this is what you get.

[joe]

Why do these folks need to rip apart the city?

[Gray Stroke Republic of Texas]

Gee and NOT ONE single incident like this from the Tea Party yet you libtard hippokrites just can not use reason and rational thought.......

There is no excuse for animal like behavior for a mere ball game big freeking whoopie doo.... America is full of spoiled children masquerading as adults and will not be held accountable to civil behavior.

How sad that California has no standards of civil discourse nor conduct ... yet consider themselves to be intellectual and "Progressives" well just as long as you all stay there and do not come to Texas......we do shoot animals here ...especially rabid ones.....

[fiorot]

That is how the post neanderthal fatherless welfare, gang banger, hip hop , inner city street person celebrates. Get the picture? enough code words you Obama lovers?

[Rita-of-Sunland]

Charlie Beck is the Mayor's lapdog and a worthless WIMP. If the Lakers sense of morality they would cancel their idiotic "parade" and spend the money on covering the damage done by their gang banger "fans." All the violence, destruction, mayhem, and criminal behavior is a direct result of the Mexican gang culture that now rules this city from the mayor on down.

[Anon90029]

The mentality of some residents in LA County.

The Lakers are a bunch of uneducated overpaid little boys.

Who cares if they won????

10 miles around the Staples Center should have been closed off and shut down. There wouldn't have been ANY PROBLEMS if that had been done.

[Lisa]

OBAMA VOTERS!

[whitey]

Well, I think we ALL know who rioted. El mexicans.

[joann R]

FANS?? how dare u refer to them as fans, becasue they have a jersey on or some type of Laker gear, do not mix up a trouble maker with a Laker fan! These people don't love LA or they wouldn't trash it, write on it, or scare the people who live here! These are people who have NOTHING better to do with their time! NO MEDIA YOU CANNOT CALL THEM FANS! get it straight FANS DON"T TRASH LOS ANGELES PERIOD!
A fan is someone who upholds and respects the City of ANGELS! A fan is one who supports thier team win or loose! A fan is one who loves the team, poionts out what could of done better if they lost or one who celebrates with dignity when they win. Don't get it twisted by callilng these people fans, they aren't fans they aare haters real haters who decide to trash the city they live in when something positive happens , they shouldn't be allowed to live is Los Angeles home of the World Champion Los Angeles Lakers!!!

[Yo]

This won't get any play. It ain't Philly. Had Philly won and LA celebration scene was in play then the Muckedup Mainstream Media would play the "hate" Philly card and broadcast this to there all of 5 watchers.

Since this LA, it's all good. Lakers triplepeat in 11! Get the SWAT team ready.

[Bill]

Wake up America. This is what the Muslim in the White House has planned for this country. Unless we get control of the border soon, we will wind up a third world spanish speaking cesspool like Los Angeles.

[H Sanchez]

This is police fault for trying to show force. Just leave everybody alone, so they won't have to fight back.

[Capn Jack]

LA has become a third world cesspool. It way past time to secure our borders and tighten up our immigration policies.

[Ray]

Looks like the mayor and his ban of mis-fits needs to stop worrying about Arizona protecting their state when they can't protect their own city, and just like with the feds, the police are caught in the middle. They should have real bullets and have permission before hand to use force when threatened.

[OC--Keith]

Congratulations to the Lakers..Condolences to the streets of LA...maybe the police should have just let the fans at the Celtics"s bus...then 90% of this would have been avoided..it was about revenge...
Maybe next year if there is a "little wager" between the 2 cities, it should be the Losing city has to pay for the repairs of the damage done after its over..