LA Protest Turns Violent: Four Arrested Amid Immigration Detention Clashes
Protesters, police exchange at Metropolitan Detention Center
Downtown Los Angeles witnessed a second night of confrontations between demonstrators and the LAPD over immigration detentions. The unrest escalated, resulting in one injury and four arrests late Thursday and into Friday morning.
Officers Confronted by Aggressive Crowd
Central Division officers responded to a call for assistance at the federal Metropolitan Detention Center, located on Alameda Street near Aliso Street. According to an LAPD statement, officers arrived to find a large group in the street, with some individuals obstructing and becoming violent.
One protester allegedly wielded a six-foot rope tipped with metal bolts, striking officers. Authorities reported that others in the crowd refused to disperse and resisted removal efforts.
Arrests Detail Alleged Assault, Resistance
The arrests included one individual on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon. Two others were taken into custody for allegedly resisting or obstructing officers. A fourth person faces a battery charge for reportedly spitting at officers.
Injured Party Requires Ambulance
Following the dispersal of the protest around 12:30 a.m. Friday, an ambulance was summoned to the detention center for an injured individual. Reports from the scene indicated that a Los Angeles Fire Department ambulance, escorted by a Department of Homeland Security Federal Protective Service vehicle, departed the area. The condition of the injured party remains unknown.
Previous Night’s Incident Under Investigation
The clashes occurred in the same vicinity as a prior night’s demonstration. During that event, a federal officer was reportedly attacked by a masked individual. No ambulance was called for that incident, with police stating the agent did not appear seriously harmed. Officers reportedly apprehended a woman suspected of assault with a deadly weapon during the previous night’s unrest.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) data from fiscal year 2023 shows over 240,000 arrests were made nationwide related to immigration law violations (ICE 2023 Report).
