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Subscribe to RSSProtests in Anaheim, Calif., turned violent in the wake of two controversial shootings involving local police. And as KNBC's Angie Crouch reports, at least several arrests were made.
ANAHEIM, California -- Protesters broke the windows of least a half-dozen storefronts in Anaheim on Tuesday resulting in 24 people being arrested and leaving six injured in the second major clash between police and demonstrators since an officer shot dead an apparently unarmed man.
Mayor Tom Tait had called on Monday for a state and federal review of the shooting of the man, a suspected gang member.
More than 600 demonstrators gathered at City Hall on Tuesday, where officials were holding a regular meeting, police said.
NBCLosAngeles.com reported that crowds converged on the building at around 4 p.m. (7 p.m. ET) to urge council members to investigate a series of recent officer-involved shootings and reform the city's police force, which residents have accused of racial profiling.
Officials say there have been eight officer-involved shootings in the city this year.
The council chamber reached capacity and police in riot gear blocked access to the meeting, according to NBCLosAngeles.com.
Some protesters threw patio chairs through the windows of a Starbucks, a witness told Reuters. No one in the coffee shop was injured, said Anaheim police spokesman Sergeant Bob Dunn.
In the same block-long strip mall, at least five other businesses also had windows smashed, a witness said.
Afterward, officers toting shotguns stood guard in front of the storefronts.
"We are happy to hear from any and all residents," Tate said. "But we will not accept any violent protests, vandalism or arson perpetrated under the guise of public protest."
Dozens of officers wielding night sticks faced off against the demonstrators, who at one point threw water bottles and rocks toward the line.
More photos: Protests in Anaheim
At least one person was transported to the hospital after being shot in the head with a pepperball, Dunn told NBCLosAngeles.com. No officers were injured.
He said the demonstrations lasted until about 2 a.m., hours after residents gathered outside the city counsel meeting.
Police fire pepper spray balls at demonstrators who pelted officers with rocks and bottles during a protest in Anaheim, California. NBCNews.com's Dara Brown reports.
Aerial footage showed several fires near the scene of the protest -- one in a trash bin, another near a bus bench.
The tensions flared after police shot and killed a man on Saturday afternoon.
Two officers had tried to approach three men in an alley who fled, Dunn said earlier this week. The officers followed on foot and one caught up to one suspect, police said.
The officer shot the man, who police said they later identified as Manuel Diaz, a known gang member. Diaz was not found to have been carrying a gun, police said.
The Diaz family filed a $50 million wrongful-death lawsuit against the city on Tuesday.
'Transparency is essential'
Police fired pepper pellets at angry residents near the scene of the shooting on Saturday.
Late on Sunday Anaheim officers tried to stop a car and killed a man who police said fled and opened fire on them during a foot chase.
Alex Gallardo / Reuters
A protester is arrested during a demonstration in Anaheim, Calif., on Tuesday.
He was the fifth person to die in an officer-involved shooting in Anaheim this year.
Tait called for a state and federal probe of the fatal shootings during a news conference Sunday, during which some 70 protesters stormed the lobby.
"Transparency is essential," Tait said Sunday. "The investigation will seek the truth. And whatever the truth is, we will own it."
At least four agencies are involved in or are expected to join the investigation, including the U.S. Attorney's office, the State Attorney General, the Anaheim Police Department's Officer of Internal Affairs and -- as is usual for officer-involved shootings -- the Orange County District Attorney's Office.
Anaheim was among six California cities with a population over 100,000 that saw the biggest spikes in violent crime in 2011, according to an analysis of FBI crime data released last month.
Reuters contributed to this report.
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Calling a spade a spade: Ignoring the race riots won't make them disappear. Do you suppose Holder is going to do anything about it? I doubt it. He's more of a CAUSE than a solution.
I totally understand freedom of speech, the right to gather and protest. But what this story fails to give us is the reason for the crowd to destroy the properties of those not involved. Are we saying it's okay to destroy and maim any one or anything as long as it's done in a group, and that is a freedom right without consequences.
It doesn't say they weren't allowed in the meeting, just there was a meeting. Eight police involved shootings this year ? Again...STATISTICS... How many of those had weapons, made threats, Had just finished a violent crime. Don't get me wrong, I believe law enforcement has too much power along with all Govt. establishments, but to riot without provocation for the sake of saying we are mad and will destroy what we want because is foolish.
How many murders and violent crimes go on in the city annually, and what is the backgrounds on the 8 the police were involved in. What were the situation's.
That's why it's never prudent to base your opinion from the media.
i don't like cops - oftentimes they're 'roided-up frat boys looking to whip ass. however, i do like seeing cops tune up blacks and browns, particularly when they (blacks and browns) start vandalizing. the b's and b's are just out to raise cain - they have no interest in protesting any injustice or in making a statement. so i am all for the cops getting in a little stick-time on the hooligans.
They have nothing else to do. Maybe there's free refreshments.
Just not at Starbucks.
Some joker always points to the Tea Party. I haven't heard one violent act coming from any Tea Party gathering. Occupy...hey maybe they should all gather on the lawn of the White House and Capital Hill instead of cities where nothing will be done. The source of the problem is in Washington DC and not local business. I'm sick of hearing the blame game and everything is someones fault other than those who are lazy and don't want to work. Occupy is made up mostly of young punks who thinks the world owes them something. It owes no one. Go get a damn job, earn your way in life and stop complaining it gets you nowhere. If you want change get out and vote. Make a stand where it counts.
Hmmm...What great choices have my bettors served up for me this time? Obama or Romney?
No thanks.
To Debi-1314897,
That's the attitude the ticks me off the most!!!!!! Good men and women have "DIED" to give you the right to vote in this country, and you blow it off because you don't like the people running???? Get off your lazy a$$ and write in whom you feel should be the president you have that right also!!! If you don't vote, as far as I'm concerned you don't have the right to "BITCH" about our government!!! So shut the hell up!!!!!!
@Mark: No, they died for our RIGHT to vote. It is your right as an American to CHOOSE to vote, that's what soldiers fight for. Those brave men and women fought so that you and I would have the freedom to CHOOSE. I'm sick of hearing people claim its "un-American" to not vote when in reality exercising my right to choose is 100% American. I know you did not say that, this is just a statement I personally hear all the time.
Mark:
Before you get up on your high horse, I never stated I didn't vote at all. There are local elections and propositions which I am very interested in participating.
I doubt very seriously that those who died would call me unpatriotic for not wasting my precious vote on one of two boneheads who happen to be running for the highest, most important office in the land.
I find it very funny how people protesting a shooting that may or may not be just (who knows I was not there and I bet most of them were not either) have to destroy personel property of someone who has nothing to do with any of this. As I said I don't know if the shootings were right or wrong, but I do know Starbucks didn't shoot anyone that I know of, maybe over caffinate but thats not a crime. Maybe you should start a protest against gang violence and gangs in general, not the police that are paid very megerly to protect you from them. Oh, and remember the next time someone breaks in or shoots someone you love it's those same officers that will be responding!
A riot over Starbuck's pricing is next.
It is amazing that so many people here chastize police for doing a job that they could not do! Having to deal with the dredge of society on a daily basis and then having to worry every moment if you will get thrown under the bus by the very people you are out there risking your life for everyday! Hey libtards, why don't you try a ride-a-long with these treasure's of our country and see the real world!
Well lefties, you're getting your "diversity", and it's destroying America. Opening the castle gates to the invading vandals isn't "diversity", it's insanity.
Oh GFY John...this hasn't got jack sh*t to do with the left or the right...get a f'n clue ya moron.
There are plenty of clues in every story you read these days. The more CA turns left, the worse conditions get. And thanks for not disappointing with the "moron" thing. Anyone who disagrees with an arrogant, pseudo-intellectual liberal is immediately attacked with the same old stale, ad hominem cliche.
If they shot Gang members, who really cares, saves the state money in putting this scum in jail away.
Excuse me, but how does throwing something through someone's window or smashing people's property "protest" or in any way injure the people against whom these "protestors" were "protesting" - the police (and government?)? Why don't these "protestors" break their own windows and wreck their own property?
Hal
Or better yet, go attack the police station and see what happens.
How`s that sanctuary city stuff working out for you now Kalifornia?
The hell breaking a window is not violent. Get a brain! That is what was INTENDED when the windowns were SMASHED, not broken.
When it comes to a mob, yes it is violent. These people should all be rounded up and treated like the criminals they are.
They had NO RIGHT to damage ANYONE else's property, no matter what beef they think they have with authority's.
The only reason they had a riot because they knew that means FREE to steal and use it under the guise of a protest.
They must be taking a page out of the blacks handbook of how to burn a city to the ground and get away with it.
That is exactly what happened in the WATTS riot. How many business were burned to the ground and NOT one person was ever prosecuted for any of it.
When a person joins a gang they all know they will either end up in prison or dead, either way works for me. Anyone want to take a guess at how many in the crowd of protesters were illegal aliens?
This article need to be removed and rewritten. As it is it sounds like the police shot and killed at least four people. It is more than inflammatory, it is incitement.
I don't know who was at fault for the riot, but the people who put this page out are doing no one any favors by printing distortions and half truths trying to pass it off as journalism.
Police shot and killed a gang member, hence there will be one less store robbery, one less stolen car, one less mugging, one less stray bullet to kill some kid. And our society has a problem with this? That is why children continue to grow up to be thugs and criminals. Because it's everyone elses fault but the defective person who was euthenized. I will agree that the cops went too far this time and should be held accountable. You cannot break the law to enforce the law. I'm just outraged over how quickly people can come together over a gang member but can't be bothered to help thy neighbor on any other occasion.
Stop the police from racial profiling. How about stop giving the police ammunition. Have a peaceful protest not a riot. Rioting and destruction of property only reinforces negative stereotypes.
retired,,,who was out there first? Take away ammo???Racial profiling??? These IDIOT protesters should be shot and I don't care what their race or color is! You libtards blame it on the police without ONE SINGLE THOUGHT of how it started! It was not stinkin profileing bozo!!!!
At no point did I blame the police for doing their job. These protestors make the job of the police all that much harder. The point I was trying to make is do not break the law in the first place. I agree race and color has no significance when you are talking about criminals as in this case. The protestors started it and I agree with you the police were just doing their jobs in finishing it. I applaud the police if for nothing else the restraint they exercised in dealing with this mob.
Whats wrong with profiling, it works, the cops are not stupid, they know if there are 4 minorities riding around in a car at 3:00 am they either have:
A) Warrants
B) Illegal firearms
C) Dope in the car
D) All of the above
Cops deal with these people on a daily basis, they know who they are and they know what they do.
Steve: Well said!!!!!!!!!!!
Way to go Anaheim. Destroying your own backyard. Now the unemployment % will rise, more people living off Uncle Sam. If I were Starbucks, this is my opportunity to close down.
If you run from the police and can not follow the law, you get whats coming to you. I have absolutely zero sympathy for him. If everyone ran from the police and ignored them, this entire country would look like the protesting idiots in Anaheim. People are talking about infants and small children being hurt in the protest violence. What moron takes a child with them to protest? These people feel like they are entitled to anything and everything and the laws ont apply to them. If you run from the police, you are placing yourself in harms way, plain and simple. I just dont get why that is so hard for some people to understand.
Packnbeer
You mean what kind of moron takes a child to something that is sure to turn into a riot.
This is great irony. They are protesting police involved shootings and the protester riot and get shot.
Moral of the story "Don't Riot and you won't get shot!"
I wonder how many Doger fans were there? These are Thug Gang Members and their crying mothers. Lets not confuse these folks with upstanding tax payers.
You mean crying baby mama's.
"
If you put these illegals in jail, be sure to let them out before November. Barry Borrock Soetoro Hussein Osama will want their votes. This is his base.
Illegal Aliens have no Constitutional Rights. We do still have the Second Amendment and the rest of the Constitutional rights. If obamma had his way, we would have no rights whatsoever, other than to bow down to him and king sorros, puppet pelosi and the rest of the axis of evil!
I'm in no way saying what the police did in shooting the man was right, but do these people go out and protest the gangs in their neighborhood every time someone is shot by one of them - if they did, and used shear numbers of people, they'd probably be able to clean up their neighborhood somewhat and not have the need for police to be sweeping all the time.
The people of Anaheim need to realize that cops can do whatever they want, and not suffer any repercussions whatsoever. I wonder how many people at the protest were beaten and shot by the thugs in blue?
My Guess is not enough. There i a revolution going on and your going to want to choose a side Peter.
Go get your food stamps and Free health care and complain about it. Then the Thugs in blue will beat your brains in too.
Deal?
if ICE showed up,the riot would have been over quick.
you are so right about ICE. The only problem with that is that our Attorney General, has told ICE to not do their job. So the protest will go on.
Then do it yourself pu-ssy. Depending on ICE to do your racist work?? ICE dont even bother deporting innocent illegal/legal immigrants. They're after the big crimes not just the tiny crime of being here without a permit. Continue shadow boxing all by yourself, and one day you'll realize you've just wasted your time and gave your heart more stress by trying to get rid of a trend that's been happening for centuries around the world. Its no wonder why YOU PEOPLE look alot more aged than what your actual age is.
Steven Lopez
They are not immigrants, they are illegal migrants, they are not coming here to be Americans, they are coming here to take advantage of the generosity of the American people and the stupidity of the American welfare system. Their allegiance will always be to Mexico, not the U.S., they dont want to be Americans, they want to be Mexicans living in America and sending money back to Mexico. Try crossing the border illegally into Mexico and see what happens, they wont direct you to the nearest welfare office and give you food stamps and Section 8 housing, they wont offer to educate your children and give you free medical treatment, they will throw you in the nearest jail. Until we take away the incentives, the cockroaches will keep coming.
a gang member was killed, but that still is not worth rioting over. the protester will protest when the police kill a gang member, but will not protest the gangs to of whom have killed so many people. Why? Because they might the next one on the gangs next hit list.
lose a private citizen to a bad cop = riot
lose a cop in most any event = celebration
sounds fair enough
A gang banger killed? The cop should be given a medal.