Authorities made multiple arrests after street celebrations over the Dodgers’ World Series victory devolved into a series of burglaries, vandalism and fires in some parts of Los Angeles.
Crowds gathered Wednesday night near L.A. Live to celebrate, at times setting off fireworks. The Los Angeles Police Department issued a dispersal order, but it took several hours to clear the streets.
Donning blue Dodgers jerseys, hats and blankets, revelers took their celebration to the streets immediately after the World Series championship was clinched, cheering and dancing as fireworks popped overhead. Most of the celebrations were boisterous but peaceful, and city officials said trouble erupted in only a few areas involving a pocket of disorderly individuals.
In downtown, multiple businesses were burglarized or vandalized, though exact details were not available. Police said some in the crowd were “hostile” and threw objects at officers. Videos showed people stealing from Nike’s Jumpman L.A. flagship store on Broadway and cars doing doughnuts at intersections to roars from bystanders.
In Echo Park, a Metro bus was set on fire. One person was seriously injured when a firework exploded in their hand.
“Metro is disappointed and angered by the senseless act of vandalism on one of our buses following the Dodgers’ World Series win earlier this evening,” the transportation agency said in a statement.
LAPD declared four unlawful assemblies throughout the city, in celebrations that officials said turned unruly.
By the end of the night, a dozen people had been arrested, including seven who were suspected of participating in smash-and-grab incidents at two stores. Four people were tied to a break-in at Jumpman, and three at Foot Locker, according to LAPD booking records.
Workers had boarded up the windows of the Jumpman shoe store before Game 5 of the World Series on Wednesday, but it wasn’t enough to keep a large crowd from breaking in.
LAPD Sgt. Bruce Bonihanh said police were also investigating the destruction of the bus and looking for those responsible.
Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna said his deputies also made arrests.
“We had additional staff out to make sure that people in Los Angeles County celebrated safely and responsibly, and I am happy to report that the majority of our community members, true Dodger fans, celebrated in that manner,” Luna said. “Unfortunately, we did have a couple of pockets throughout the county where we had some challenges.”
Several deputies were attacked with fireworks on Whittier Boulevard in East Los Angeles, Luna said, including one whose vest burned after it was hit by a firework. Another deputy was struck by someone with a pipe and another was hit with a rock. Two people were arrested.
Luna warned people against using fireworks and said two people were arrested on felony charges for using explosive devices.
“They’re basically mortar rounds that these individuals are using,” he said.
Video from Wednesday night showed one fan in a Dodgers jersey stumbling away from the street after an explosion. His hand could be seen bleeding as he walked toward a storefront.
Luna said deputies and LAPD officers were attacked by “pockets” of individuals who used bottles, rocks and fireworks.
Stephanie Wiggins, chief executive of the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority, called the news of the destruction of a Metro bus in Echo Park “incredibly disappointing.”
She said the bus operator and the passengers were able to get off the vehicle safely before it was ransacked. Such buses typically cost $600,000 to $700,000, she said.
Mayor Karen Bass characterized the incidents of mayhem as “a few” and she expected those people to be held accountable. She added that the “overwhelming majority of people who were out there celebrating, the people who were celebrating at the Valenzuela memorial, were peaceful, joyful, unified.”
Additional police officers will work along the parade route Friday, said LAPD Assistant Officer Blake Chow. He said he didn’t have details on whether the Dodgers will reimburse the city, which is facing severe financial restraints, for the cost of the officers.
LAPD officials said more arrests could still occur as they investigate some of the incidents from Wednesday night. In at least some cases, police deployed less-lethal munitions to control the crowds.
Workers arrived to clean up the aftermath Thursday morning, painting over graffiti on the metal window shutters along Broadway and blasting away paint on the sidewalks with pressure washers.
A steady thrum of people made their way along the busy corridor on their way to work, shop or eat. Several shoeboxes, remnants of the night’s smash-and-grab, were found scattered on the street and sidewalk along Broadway. Workers at Jumpman declined to comment.
“It was so ugly this morning,” said Otto Pérez, 49, a handyman who was painting over metal shutters with beige paint Thursday morning.
He said he wasn’t surprised at what happened because people often spray-paint over the storefronts in the neighborhood.
Clifton’s Cafeteria facilities manager David Matza had the tedious job of scraping spray paint off the windows on Broadway.
“It was bad,” Matza said. “There was paint on all the windows. It’s not surprising that this happened. But what a mess.”
Montserrat Bertellotik, co-owner of Serratti Italian coffee shop on 4th Street, said he felt the scene in the neighborhood was not that bad.
“I was sure that the looting wouldn’t continue beyond the night,” she said.
Bass said that despite some incidents, the “overwhelming majority of celebrations last night were joyful and peaceful.”
“We will work to keep Angelenos safe as always,” Bass said, adding that, “violence of any kind will not be tolerated.”
Downtown has been the site of unrest after both the Lakers and the Dodgers won championships.
There were countless other celebrations across the city Wednesday night, most reveling in the historic victory without incident.
The Dodgers became the first major league team to win a World Series-clinching game when trailing by five runs, rallying to beat the New York Yankees 7-6 in Game 5.
Fans flooded Whittier Boulevard in East L.A., dancing, setting off fireworks and chanting. Neighbors banged pots and pans on their porches while fireworks, cheers and sirens rang out in Highland Park. And in Little Tokyo, fans gathered near the Shohei Ohtani mural to celebrate the beloved player who this year became the first in history to hit 50 home runs and steal 50 bases in a season.
The display of fireworks across the city rivaled the Fourth of July, while Los Angeles City Hall and the “D” on the Hollywood sign were lighted up in Dodger blue to celebrate the win.
Authorities had closed off some streets in East L.A. and downtown in hopes of preventing some of the more intense celebrations that occurred when the Dodgers won in 2020.
Nevertheless, fan energy could not be contained.
In East Los Angeles, the fireworks began to blast the moment Walker Buehler struck out Alex Verdugo to win the Series. People poured out of their houses and headed toward Whittier Boulevard, the Eastside’s historical corridor.
“This is so incredible!” screamed Boyle Heights resident Jessica Gutierrez, 33. “We’ve waited so long for this, and you just have to be with all your fellow Dodger fans.”
The L.A. County Sheriff’s Department and the California Highway Patrol had blocked off the intersection of Whittier and Atlantic boulevards in an effort to stymie cruising, but to no avail — cars merely did a U-turn on Hillview Avenue.
Near Hoefner Avenue in front of the Commerce Center, fans stood in the middle of Whittier Boulevard to record the passing parade. Although it was too crowded to do full spinouts, cars still spun their tires to burn rubber, to the cheer of crowds.
“Oh, my God, that was the craziest game I’ve ever seen,” one fan told KCAL News at a watch party in downtown L.A. “We are back on top after 2020, and we finally get our parade!”
The Dodgers parade set for Friday will be the first in 36 years, after hopes of a 2020 communal celebration were stymied by the COVID-19 lockdown.
“Tonight, we showed the world that Los Angeles is made of CHAMPIONS,” Bass wrote in a statement on X. “Congratulations to the Dodgers on tonight’s win. Looking forward to seeing you back in LA!”
Los Angeles County Superior Court facilities in the Civic Center area, including the courthouses and records centers on Hill, Temple and Spring streets, will be closed Friday and officials said all matters on the calendar would be rescheduled
After falling behind 5-0 after three innings Wednesday night at Yankee Stadium, the team staged a stunning five-run comeback in the fifth. After falling behind again, they rallied again in the eighth.
“It was nerve-racking! I was so nervous, but we kept our faith, and fortunately things went our way,” one fan told KCAL News at a watch party in Pasadena. “I’m just glad and excited we won.”
