The top prosecutor in Los Angeles filed charges of eight alleged assaults on police officers, destroying buildings and robbing stores.
At a press conference Wednesday afternoon. Atti. Nathan Hochman vowed to “strongly protect people’s right to gather peacefully” but also warned that those involved in violence, theft or property damage would face serious consequences.
“If people want to throw an insult, we will protect it,” he said. “If people want to commit crime, we will prosecute.”
Hawkman then spoke about the broader narrative in the state media that the city was siege and said that the description of “there are some way of exploding fireworks in our streets every day” is wrong.
“Let me look at you: There are 11 million people in this county, 4 million people in this city … Thousands of people participated in the legal protest. That means 99.9% of people living in the city of Los Angeles or Los Angeles County did not conduct any protests at all.”
His office announced allegations of three people using fireworks and motorcycles to injure officers.
Juan Rodriguez of Gardena was accused of assaulting a peace officer, resisting arrest, advocating for violence against an officer, who allegedly threw them at police during the protests.
Randy Paul Ruiz and Georgina Ravallero are also charged with attacks related to Sunday afternoon incidents near the downtown Immigration Detention Center and near Alameda Street, a flashpoint in recent times. Two motorcycles can be seen walking around a group of protesters on Sunday, turning the engine to the cheers of the crowd. A moment later, the motorcycle crashed next to the LAPD officer who blocked Alameda Street.
On Wednesday, Hochman and LAPD chief Jim McDonnell said Ruiz and Ravallero deliberately hit their bikes onto the police's skirmish line. If charged with conviction, both face more than six years in prison.
Hawkeman also announced charges against two people who broke into a Nike store in downtown Los Angeles Sunday night, aiming to target felony people with a downtown justice hall that has the headquarters of the District Attorney’s Office and the Sheriff’s Department.
It is not clear when everyone may appear in court or who the defense attorney is.
Hodgman said dozens of cases could still be filed as police continue to review the videotapes.
Last year, Hochman promised a tougher attack on certain protest-related crimes in his successful campaign, picking out those who blocked highways and damaged property.
Often, prosecutors in the Los Angeles area have put forward a firm line in deciding protesters in a matter of deciding to accuse protesters in past massive unrest cases. After the 2020 murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis, thousands were arrested by LAPD and other agencies, disobeying legal orders and other minor crimes, but both the Los Angeles City Attorney’s Office and former offenders were murdered. Atti. George Gascón almost universally rejected these cases.
Earlier this year, the city attorney's office announced it would file charges against 350 people who continued to bomb Gaza during campus protests last year. The District Attorney’s Office did file felony charges against two people allegedly attacked Camp Plastin at UCLA last year.
