Los Angeles Police Chief Jim McDonnell and department leaders held a press conference on Sunday night to update the public about the ongoing clashes between downtown law enforcement and anti-ICE protesters.
Officials said at least 39 people have been arrested by LAPD since Saturday, and California Highway Patrol officials arrested 17 more people Sunday after violating the 101 pm highway.
During the arrest, one man was taken into custody on suspicion of throwing a Molotov cocktail at an officer, and a motorcyclist was arrested for plunging the line of police skirmishes.
Amidst the mayhem, protesters are on police cars parked on 101 highways and attempting to burn cruisers, with elevated rocks, scooters and other items. Police said several individuals were shooting “commercial-grade fireworks” at officers.
“It can kill you,” Chief McDonnell said. “We adapted our tactics to ensure that these people can be detained and accountable.”
LA Chief Jim McDonnell was seen at a press conference on June 8, 2025. (KTLA) On Sunday, June 8, 2025, a California Highway Patrol vehicle was burned on 101 highway near the Metropolitan Detention Center in downtown Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer) Eds Note: Obscenity follows last night’s immigration raid protest, a flash bomb explodes on the 101 highway near the Metropolitan Detention Center in downtown Los Angeles on Sunday, June 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer) Following last night’s immigration attack protest, protesters throw things at California Highway Patrol vehicles on the 101 Expressway on Sunday, June 8, 2025, as officers are covered under an elevated track near the Metropolitan Detention Center in downtown Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer) Following last night’s immigration raid protest, protesters throw scooters into a police vehicle near the Metropolitan Detention Center in downtown Los Angeles on Sunday, June 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) Two California Highway Patrol officers attempted to dodge a rock near the Metropolitan Detention Center in downtown Los Angeles on Sunday, June 8, 2025, following last night’s immigration raid protest. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) On Sunday, June 8, 2025, the California Highway Patrol Vehicle (AP Photo/Ethan Swarp) on the 101 highway is a member of the California National Guard seen on Commerce’s I-5 convoy as officers are covered under the elevated tracks in downtown Los Angeles. On Commerce’s I-5 on June 8th, 2025. (Diego Ponse/Instagram @deeg1.0) A member of the California National Guard seen on June 8, 2025 on Commerce’s I-5 convoy.
McDonnell, who said the department is currently limited in interaction with the federal government’s National Guard forces, admitted that officers are overwhelmed by the number of people in the area causing mayhem.
“They take their backpacks, and the backpacks contain cinder blocks. They break the cinder blocks, they use it, hand it over and throw it to the police, throw the car and others,” he said.
“This is another agenda,” La Mayor Bass said of the National Guard’s involvement protests.
Asked about his feelings about working with the National Guard, McDonnell said he would take several more steps, including demands for mutual assistance from the LA County Sheriff and other agencies, before seeking security deployment.
“Do we need them? Watch tonight and this has gone out of control. We need to know more about what their abilities are and what their role is,” the chief said. “But we have incredible capabilities here because we always have great cops to work with.”
Chief McDonnell reiterated that LAPD has not provided any information, saying it has not functioned with federal ice agents and has been a divisional policy since 1979.
“We cannot stress this enough to those in our community who have a high level of anxiety about this issue,” he added. “We want to be able to call LAPD if necessary, or if they were witnesses to a crime, that’s what we need. Otherwise the system won’t work.”
McDonnell also noted that those committing violence are not the same people who exercise their first right to amend during the day, and kept them out of the way to express their gratitude to those engaged in peaceful demonstrations throughout the city.
“There are people who are connected to them, doing this all the time, running away as much as possible, using similar tactics from one situation of uncertainty in public opinion, from another,” the chief said. “
The video player above will allow you to watch the full press conference.
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