A truck passed by a group of protesters in Hollywood Hollywood on Thursday night, when it struck at least one person passing through the crowd, according to police and news reports from the scene.
Protesters gathered at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery at 7 p.m., before marching on the streets of Hollywood.
They were announcing on Wednesday that only three of the police officers involved in the death of Brona Taylor, who was shot dead in a brawled raid on her Bre Part, had been charged. The officer in charge, Brett Hankison, was not involved in Taylor’s death but was charged with indiscriminate shooting in his apartment building.
The charging decision, which has been expected for months, has provoked outrage across the country, with hundreds taking to Los Angeles on Wednesday night to protest.
On Thursday, the group in Hollywood was walking down Sunset Boulevard, a video posted on Twitter and YouTube shows, when a dark-colored pickup crashed into protesters, striking directly and knocking the person back. Footage shows that, after this, the truck sped off to Sunset Boulevard, hitting almost everyone else who jumped off the road.
Capt. Steve Lury, who heads the Hollywood division of the Los Angeles Police Department, said officers stopped and identified the motorist, although they did not immediately arrest him. The driver told him that protesters had earlier attacked his car, according to Lurie, adding that officers had noticed damage to the car.
Christian Monterosa, an independent photojournalist who was following the protest, said the truck was traveling against the flow of the crowd – to the west, while the group was moving east – trying to stop it as protesters began to crowd the vehicle.
Monterosa said other motorists heard the protesters screaming.
As soon as paramedics arrived at Sunset Boulevard, a protester was hit by a car.
(Guardian Scholes / Los Angeles Times)
Paramedics were called to the corner of Sunset Boulevard and Seward Street at 9 p.m., Los Angeles Fire Department spokesman Nicholas Pranz said. The ambulance took at least one person to the hospital with minor injuries, according to the LAPD. Lurie said the man was in a stable condition and he refused to cooperate with police.
Caution: The video has graphic content and strong language.
According to KCAL-TV Channel 9’s helicopter, Sky 9’s LAPD and footage, after the incident and a few blocks east of Sunset Bard Leward, a white Prius tried to drive over a group of protesters gathered at an intersection.
“He wasn’t traveling at a fast pace – he was moving forward, trying to get past, and those people were upset,” said photojournalist Monterosa.
News footage shows the crowd knocking on car windows and doors. After Prius cleared the crowd, a black pickup truck with several people sitting in bed chased him, Prius stepped forward and stopped abruptly. A man got out of the truck and appeared to be trying to pull the driver out of the Prius, according to the footage.
The Prius overturned and collided with a green Mustang convertible, which was associated with protests, according to the LAPD. One man jumped out of the convertible and began striking Preez with a flagpole, showing footage, and another man landed on a skateboard, which he used to smash Prius’ windshield. The motorist fled from there but was detained a few blocks by the LAPD. No one was injured in the incident, according to police.
The LAPD said in a statement that police have identified the drivers involved in both incidents, which are still under investigation. Capt. Lurie of Hollywood said detectives would review whether the drivers, both accused by protesters, “suspect a hit-and-run or have been the victim of an attack.” Cases can be filed for consideration by either the county or city attorney, he said.
Meanwhile, protesters continued marching along Fountain Avenue just south of Sunset. Moe Brotto, 32, of Hollywood Hollywood, used a megaphone to urge protesters to stay behind.
“Please stay in the back of the car – it’s for your protection,” she muttered.
According to Lurie, an estimated 3,500 people took to the streets of Hollywood on Thursday night. Most were peaceful, but about 20 were violent, the captain said, lighting a fire in a pair of graffiti paintings and a trash can.
Times staff writer Kevin Reckt contributed to this report.
