LOS ANGELES (BN24) — Police in Los Angeles arrested at least 56 people over the weekend following violent clashes and unrest sparked by a wave of immigration raids across the city, officials said Sunday.
Los Angeles Police Department Central Division Capt. Raul Jovel confirmed that 17 of the arrests were made by California Highway Patrol officers patrolling the 101 Freeway. The arrests included a suspect accused of hurling a Molotov cocktail at an officer and another individual who allegedly rammed a motorcycle into a police line, injuring at least one officer.
A separate incident unfolded near Union Station in downtown Los Angeles on Sunday when a van was seen circling demonstrators near the Edward R. Roybal Federal Building. Protesters said the van appeared to deliberately veer toward the crowd multiple times, prompting some to chase it. Witnesses reported hearing what sounded like gunfire from the vehicle. The driver was subsequently taken into custody.
The demonstrations, which escalated over two days, were marked by waves of unrest and a significant law enforcement presence. On Saturday night, protesters were seen waving Mexican flags amid confrontations with riot police. The protests were triggered by recent immigration enforcement actions that swept through various neighborhoods in Los Angeles.
Local business owners in downtown Los Angeles reported looting in the area of 6th Street and Broadway. The LAPD acknowledged the reports in a post on X (formerly Twitter), stating that officers were dispatched to investigate. In a separate message, the department urged residents and businesses in the downtown area to document any damage, vandalism, or looting with photographs to support official police reports.
Authorities have not disclosed whether additional arrests are expected as investigations continue into the incidents over the weekend.
