Lakers fans destroy property near Staples Center in downtown L.A. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)
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What do you think about fans rioting after championships?
LOS ANGELES -- Celebration turned to near riots in Los Angeles after the Lakers defeated the Orlando Magic to win the NBA finals Sunday.
The Los Angeles Police Department says about 25 people were arrested and eight officers were injured after some threw rocks and bottles, damaged police cruisers and set several small fires in the streets outside Staples Center.
After the final buzzer sounded, hundreds of excited Lakers' fans poured out of the ESPN Zone at LA Live in downtown Los Angeles and into the streets, screaming with excitement.
Many converged on the Staples Center, climbing the statues of Earvin "Magic" Johnson and Oscar De La Hoya, while others tossed each other around in a mosh-pit-style celebration.
The reveling grew more intense as several small bonfires were set around the downtown area. Fans jumped over the flames in celebration.
LAPD officers were able to extinguish most of the fires, but that did not stop the crowd from growing increasingly rowdy and violent.
The LAPD called a tactical alert and sent dozens of officers across the city to monitor the rowdy crowds.
On 11th and Figueroa in front of the Staples Center, some revelers grew aggressive and attempted to topple squad cars, set off illegal fireworks, set trashcans on fire, rip apart trees, and throw bottles and objects, some flaming, at police officers.
By 9:00 p.m., police had officially declared an unlawful assembly near Staples Center, according to Karen Smith of the Los Angeles Police Department.
Though police ordered the crowd to disperse, some fans refused to stop the rowdy celebrations.
The scene grew more dangerous as some crowd members splintered off away from the Staples Center to the downtown area down 12th Street near Pico Boulevard.
The group was seen by news cameras picking up road flares, set to help direct the flow of traffic, and throwing them.
Some fans were also seen gathering around cars, hitting and shaking them as the drivers tried to flee the area.
In East Los Angeles, Whittier and Atlantic Boulevards were blocked to traffic, while police stationed themselves on every corner to monitor the festivities.
Crowds gathered at freeway entrances and exits, blocking and disrupting traffic. CHP and LAPD forces considered closing the 110 (Harbor) freeway to stop the flow of traffic from getting into the downtown Los Angeles area.
The crowd just north of the Staples Center was also seen flipping over cars and setting fires.
At Pico and Flower Street, revelers broke the glass windows of a shoe store and looted the business. A Shell gas station at Olympic Boulevard and Grand Avenue also was looted.
The crowd could be seen moving away from the Staples Center, leaving fires and destruction in their wake. Taggers were also seen vandalizing property in the area.
Twelve LAPD vehicles were damaged, one sheriff's vehicle was damaged, and six Metro buses were damaged, according to LAPD Officer Norma Eisenman.
Eight officers were hurt in the melee, Eisenman said.
At least one officer was taken to a hospital with minor injuries.
Officers lined the streets, taking a defensive stance, and the crowd -- which once grew to about 1,000 -- began to disperse around 11 p.m.
Chief William Bratton is commending his officers for showing restraint despite what he calls "a lot of provocation from a number of knuckleheads."
Meanwhile, fans will have even more to celebrate when the Lakers get their victory parade on Wednesday.
City officials say the parade will run from the Staples Center to a rally at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.
The Los Angeles Police Department says about 25 people were arrested and eight officers were injured after some threw rocks and bottles, damaged police cruisers and set several small fires in the streets outside Staples Center.
After the final buzzer sounded, hundreds of excited Lakers' fans poured out of the ESPN Zone at LA Live in downtown Los Angeles and into the streets, screaming with excitement.
Many converged on the Staples Center, climbing the statues of Earvin "Magic" Johnson and Oscar De La Hoya, while others tossed each other around in a mosh-pit-style celebration.
The reveling grew more intense as several small bonfires were set around the downtown area. Fans jumped over the flames in celebration.
LAPD officers were able to extinguish most of the fires, but that did not stop the crowd from growing increasingly rowdy and violent.
The LAPD called a tactical alert and sent dozens of officers across the city to monitor the rowdy crowds.
On 11th and Figueroa in front of the Staples Center, some revelers grew aggressive and attempted to topple squad cars, set off illegal fireworks, set trashcans on fire, rip apart trees, and throw bottles and objects, some flaming, at police officers.
By 9:00 p.m., police had officially declared an unlawful assembly near Staples Center, according to Karen Smith of the Los Angeles Police Department.
Though police ordered the crowd to disperse, some fans refused to stop the rowdy celebrations.
The scene grew more dangerous as some crowd members splintered off away from the Staples Center to the downtown area down 12th Street near Pico Boulevard.
The group was seen by news cameras picking up road flares, set to help direct the flow of traffic, and throwing them.
Some fans were also seen gathering around cars, hitting and shaking them as the drivers tried to flee the area.
In East Los Angeles, Whittier and Atlantic Boulevards were blocked to traffic, while police stationed themselves on every corner to monitor the festivities.
Crowds gathered at freeway entrances and exits, blocking and disrupting traffic. CHP and LAPD forces considered closing the 110 (Harbor) freeway to stop the flow of traffic from getting into the downtown Los Angeles area.
The crowd just north of the Staples Center was also seen flipping over cars and setting fires.
At Pico and Flower Street, revelers broke the glass windows of a shoe store and looted the business. A Shell gas station at Olympic Boulevard and Grand Avenue also was looted.
The crowd could be seen moving away from the Staples Center, leaving fires and destruction in their wake. Taggers were also seen vandalizing property in the area.
Twelve LAPD vehicles were damaged, one sheriff's vehicle was damaged, and six Metro buses were damaged, according to LAPD Officer Norma Eisenman.
Eight officers were hurt in the melee, Eisenman said.
At least one officer was taken to a hospital with minor injuries.
Officers lined the streets, taking a defensive stance, and the crowd -- which once grew to about 1,000 -- began to disperse around 11 p.m.
Chief William Bratton is commending his officers for showing restraint despite what he calls "a lot of provocation from a number of knuckleheads."
Meanwhile, fans will have even more to celebrate when the Lakers get their victory parade on Wednesday.
City officials say the parade will run from the Staples Center to a rally at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.
It is hard to have to put up with people like that.but then again miami,fl is not much better
Demi Pena @ 6:53 PM PDT, Jun 18, 2009
All of that money, albeit private, could have been used to feed the hungry and help sustain those who have been laid off; very disappointing ESPECIALLY in light of the violence, high salaries of the players and horrible conduct of the players. Waste of a lot of money!
Mallory @ 8:02 AM PDT, Jun 18, 2009
its to where you almost dont want your team to win f it is going to bring heartache to so many other people
nae @ 5:58 AM PDT, Jun 18, 2009
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