Tense moments outside Staples Center as police try to control fans

The Los Angeles Lakers’ victory against the Boston Celtics in the NBA final brought boisterous celebrations across Los Angeles -- mostly peaceful but with some tense moments.

Crowds smashed windows at Pico Boulevard and Figueroa Street.

At 9th and Flower streets, a crowd bashed in the windows at the condo loft tower and ripped down the barriers that had been set up at the street. Then they swarmed a pickup truck at the intersection. Ten men hopped on top of it.

Police were also responding to a report of shots fired near Staples Center.

A standoff has ensued between Lakers fans and a phalanx of more than two dozen police wearing riot gear and wielding batons. The scene began when fans tore down a traffic sign and then started tearing down two newspaper stands and lighting the papers on fire. When the police marched up Figueroa Street, about two dozen abreast, the crowd slowly receded.

Some people are throwing Monster Energy drinks at the crowd (they were given out after the win). Others are posing for photographs in front of the line of police.

Some people kicked a Honda car parked on Figueroa Street, shattering its windows. But others tried to protect the car. One in that group said: "You ain’t from L.A. This is L.A.. No burning."

At least nine people were arrested by the LAPD.

The Sheriff's Department closed Whittier Boulevard in East L.A., but no incidents were reported there.

--Robert Faturechi, Kate Linthicum, Andrew Blankstein, Ruben Vives and Hector Becerra.

Photo: Police arrest a Lakers fans on Figueroa Street after the Lakers victory over the Boston Celtics inGame 7 of the NBA Finals at Staples Center in the L.A. LIVE campus on Thurs., June 17, 2010, in Los Angeles. Credit: John W. Adkisson/Los Angeles Times

Comments

[mcfee]

Oh lord...here we go!!!

[El Guapo de la cuidad de los angeles]

Classy crowd.

[venicementor]

Arrest all the Goons who are causing problems and do not be gentle. This is ridiculous, they ruin it for everyone. I am watching people jump on expensive cars and throwing traffic cones at them. What is the matter with these idiot!!! Taking people out of cabs, what the hell! The police are doing a hell of a job trying to keep the peace, but the group at Flower and 11th is getting out of hand. My friends just called me and they were scared to death trying to drive out amongst these so called revelers, they actually thought they were ready to riot. Great!!

[Juan tamad]

Another normal, ordinary night in LA. So typical of hoodlums, after a Laker game, they go out and burn, loot and destroy properties.

[Adam Graz]

Boston Fans no doubt...

[Huey]

they aren't doing a very good job.

[oh holland]

Scum! It's always like this in LA. There should not be a Lakers parade. I don't care if the team is paying for it.

[hf2hvit]

OH MY GOD!!! STRAIGHT PEOPLE RIOTING! DON'T LET THEM GET MARRIED!

[Robert Ameeti]

Fans? No. These people are hoodlums and nothing more. To call them fans is to disrespect the true fans who would never destroy property in the interest of celebration.

[Louweegie272]

"But others tried to protect the car. One in that group said: "You ain’t from L.A. This is L.A.. No burning". What a great City this is! I feel so secure here.

[Jahree]

I came for the car chases; I stayed for the championship riots.

[savvydude]

Idiots. I hope they are all charged with felonies and are imprisoned for their foolishness.

[Lawrence W]

Who was the idiot at Monster Drinks who thought that giving out their drinks to a violent mob would be a great idea?

[jr]

Everyone needs to chillllll

[Peniz]

What a disgrace. Most embarrassing sports city in America.

[derek]

These aren't laker fans. They are thugs looking for an excuse to be thugs.

[debbie s]

why do people insist on acting like idiots when a proffesional sports team wins a championship we just won the stanley cup in chicago and are fans celebrated with dignity over two million people where in downtown chicago and no trouble i am surenot everyone acted like idiots but come on people is it really necesary to destroy things that other people work hard for

[Jere]

Who are these idiots who are destroying things? Tazer them, tear gas them, do what it takes to make them stop.

[Lawrence W]

I would be extremely embarrassed if these people were of my ethnicity.

[JD]

Someone please explain why people riot and get violent when the team WINS?

[Dan Johnston]

I hear the LAPD canceled its training trip to Arizona out of respect for the boycott.

Well ... I guess they've got their hands full of illegal immigrants tonight ...

[Mike]

I thought Raider fans were bad... HeHe

[Hammer]

Looking at the crowd celebration is confusing. Who did the Celtics lose to? I was sure it was the Lakers, but based on the flags I'm seeing, it seems to have been Mexico. What a huge upset! Mexico won the NBA Finals!

As far as the rioters in general go, break out the rubber bullets. If they want to act like wild animals, they should be treated as such.

[aang]

L.A. has the most ghetto people in all of pro sport cities in the US.

I think those that get arrested should be made to clean up after the parade and then be made to do street and freeway garbage pick-up and grafetti clean-up for the entire summer without compensation.

oh yeah, and also pay the store owners for the cost of THEIR clean-ups, ETC

[Aunt Bee]

Can't we all just get along?

I left in 1992 and can't imagine what's it's like now.