10/31/24 01:25:00
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10/31 13:23 CDT Los Angeles sees city bus burned, store thefts and rowdy crowds
after Dodgers win World Series
Los Angeles sees city bus burned, store thefts and rowdy crowds after Dodgers
win World Series
By CHRISTOPHER WEBER
Associated Press
LOS ANGELES (AP) --- Rowdy crowds took to the streets of Los Angeles after the
Dodgers won the World Series, setting a city bus on fire, breaking into stores
and lighting off fireworks. A dozen arrests were reported by police Thursday,
but officials emphasized that most fans celebrated peacefully.
Video showed revelers throwing objects at police in downtown LA as sirens
blared and officers told them to leave the area late Wednesday after the
Dodgers defeated the Yankees in Game 5 in New York.
Other video showed someone standing atop a bus waving a Dodgers banner and
people running from a boarded-up Nike store with armfuls of sneakers before
throwing the merchandise into cars parked outside. No injuries were reported.
Despite some unrest, "the overwhelming majority of celebrations last night were
joyful and peaceful," Mayor Karen Bass said at a Thursday news conference
discussing the logistics of Friday's planned victory parade.
"We will work to keep Angelenos safe as always," Bass said, emphasizing that
"violence of any kind will not be tolerated."
The mayor, who wore a Dodgers jersey with her name on the back, noted that the
parade will be held on what would've been Fernando Valenzuela 's 64th birthday.
The beloved Dodgers pitcher died last week.
Bass said she will be sending a Dodgers jersey to New York Mayor Eric Adams to
wear at his City Hall "because he has lost the bet."
Officials said the Los Angeles Police Department will be on high alert
throughout the week to protect communities and businesses in the city, which
has been the site of previous unrest after championship wins by both the Lakers
and the Dodgers.
There were some "unruly, and at times violent and hostile celebrations" after
Wednesday's win, with several acts of vandalism, including the burning of a
Metropolitan Transportation Authority bus, LAPD spokesperson Officer Drake
Madison said in an email.
Arrests were on charges such as failure to disperse, receiving stolen property
or commercial burglary, Madison said. There were also several instances of
street takeovers downtown and police used less-lethal munitions to control
several hostile and violent crowds, Madison said. In the coming days,
detectives will attempt to identify those responsible for crimes, he said.
Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna said his deputies would be on full alert
for various events, including the celebrations of the Dodgers' win, Halloween
festivities and the upcoming elections. He urged fans to not shoot off illegal
fireworks, take over intersections or spin out cars, all of which happened
Wednesday night.
"The individuals that were involved in that last night was a very small segment
of the east Los Angeles community because most of them were out celebrating
because they love their Dodgers," Luna said.
The Dodgers plan to commemorate their championship Friday with a downtown
parade followed by a celebration at Dodger Stadium. The team said Wednesday
that because of logistics, traffic and timing, fans won't be able to attend
both events.
The parade was expected to include members of the Dodgers traveling atop
double-decker buses along a 45-minute route on city streets.
Officials urged people to work from home and to use public transportation when
possible Friday.
___
Associated Press journalists Sarah Brumfield in Washington, D.C., and Kathy
McCormack in Concord, New Hampshire, contributed to this report.
___
This story corrects that Bass was not wearing a Valenzuela jersey, but one with
her name on the back.
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