Los Angeles officials have released criminal charges against five people as top LA County prosecutors warned that dozens of additional charges would be filed.
LA County District Attorney Nathan Hochman warned that his office would actively pursue those who hurt law enforcement officers during protests that plunder and destroy local businesses.
“Let me provide you with some bad news,” Hochmann sent a message to protesters who were involved in violent and illegal activities. “There’s a huge amount of videos, through social media and more. I know how you’re doing.”
The accused is Juan Rodriguez, who has been accused of bringing commercial-grade fireworks to the protest scene on Sunday, June 8th, tossing them to LAPD officers in the First Allenzes Avenue and Los Angeles Avenue areas.
LAPD chief Jim McDonnell confirmed that an officer was injured in an explosive fireworks earlier this week.
“I saw Molotov cocktails and fireworks and fired up mortars from our officers’ tubes,” McDonnell said. “Remember that our executives face uncertain and often dangerous situations every day.
In another case, two motorcyclists, Randy Paul Ruiz and Georgina Ravalero, were also accused of attacking officers after driving their motorcycles into police on the skirmish line on Temple and Alameda Street on Sunday.
One officer was injured, while several others were knocked down, Hochman said.
As cities and counties began rubbing graffiti from ice and lets targeting police, men and women were accused of destroying the Hall of Justice.
“He was literally writing paint rollers, very long sticks, and graffiti on the 12-foot-by-12-foot area,” LA County Sheriff Robert Luna described the suspected vandalism. “The suspect used beige paint, but the graffiti included blasphemies directed at federal agencies.”
Hochman admitted that the U.S. law firm has issued separate federal charges against violent protesters, adding that his firm has not been involved or warned in advance.
“The District Attorney’s Office will similarly protect people’s rights vigorously, gather together peacefully and engage in a First Amendment protected speech,” Hochmann explained. “However, when a speech goes beyond a protected speech to an illegal act, those engaged in that illegal act will be charged.”
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