Los Angeles witnessed chaotic scenes as rowdy crowds celebrated the Dodgers’ World Series victory, igniting a bus, looting stores, and lighting firecrackers in the streets. Police reported approximately a dozen arrests early Thursday morning.
Footage captured individuals hurling objects at law enforcement as sirens echoed through the city, with officers urging the crowd to disperse following the Dodgers’ triumph over the Yankees in Game 5 held in New York.
According to Officer Drake Madison, a spokesperson for the Los Angeles police, the celebrations turned “unruly, at times violent and hostile,” leading to acts of vandalism such as the burning of a Metropolitan Transit Authority bus. Arrests included charges for failure to disperse, receiving stolen property, and commercial burglary.
The downtown area experienced several street takeovers, prompting police to deploy less-lethal munitions to manage the aggressive crowds. Madison indicated that detectives would work to identify those responsible for the incidents in the days ahead.
Additional videos displayed revelers atop a bus proudly waving Dodgers banners, while others were seen exiting a boarded-up store with stolen sneakers. It remains unclear if any injuries occurred during the celebrations.
An inquiry was submitted to the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transit Authority regarding the damage.
The Dodgers are set to honor their World Series championship with a downtown parade on Friday, followed by a celebration at Dodger Stadium. The team announced that due to logistical challenges, fans would not be able to attend both events.
