L.A. police, sheriff increase patrols ahead of possible Dodgers World Series win
With the Los Angeles Dodgers on the verge of a four-game World Series sweep Tuesday night, law enforcement officials have beefed up patrols and say they plan to take action in the event of reckless or potentially dangerous celebrations.
When the “Boys in Blue” won the 2020 Fall Classic, many fans got especially rowdy downtown, tagging police cars and looting businesses.
After Monday’s game three win of the current World Series, Dodgers fans in East L.A. took the streets, overrunning the intersection of Atlantic and Olympic boulevards where vehicles were seen doing donuts and mini-bike gangs doing wheelies while others cheered and waved flags on sidewalks and in crosswalks.
The L.A. County Sheriff’s Department ultimately declared an unlawful assembly and forced revelers to leave.
“Can you imagine going out to celebrate and then we have to make a notification to somebody’s parents that their son or daughter was just killed in an intersection because of a street takeover or something like that?” Sheriff Robert Luna said. “Let’s celebrate properly.”
Luna added that deputies will give warnings, dispersal orders and make arrests if partying gets out of hand.
At a press event earlier Tuesday, Mayor Karen Bass didn’t answer any specific questions about a celebratory parade for the city, instead remaining cautiously optimistic about a win.
“We’re not going jinx anything,” Bass said. “We’re all going to be watching tonight to see if we can wrap this up quickly.”
Dodgers fans take to the streets in East Los Angeles
Marco Villalobos, owner of EastLos Boy Apparel on Whittier Boulevard, didn’t hold back, telling KTLA he could tell by the way the Dodgers were playing that they’re going to win, which meant major celebrations in the city.
The small business owner added that he hopes people will celebrate safely.
“Think about it, think about the damage you could do to the city,” he said. “Think about the neighbors, think about the kids, think about the parents, the elder people that come out and celebrate too.”
East L.A. resident and Dodger fan Edgard Chipres echoed the sentiment, telling KTLA it’s his hope that fellow fans can channel their energy and power over to the Bronx and keep things under control at home.
“Nothing too crazy, no fireworks, nothing too loud, extravagant,” he explained.
As for local law enforcement agencies, officials said they’re working together tonight and in the days ahead to reassure residents and business owners that they’re looking out for their best interests as the watch parties and festivities get underway.
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