After close to a week of mostly peaceful demonstrations in Los Angeles protesting the Trump administration, a person is facing severe charges that could send him to prison.
Los Angeles District Attorney Nathan Hochman says Martin Richard Torres, 42, from Los Angeles, threw items onto the 101 Freeway, endangering lives.
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"Mr. Torres, on February 3, went to the Los Angeles street sign right over the 101 freeway. He threw books onto the oncoming freeway traffic. One of them actually made contact with a vehicle," Hochman said.
According to a press release from the DA's office, Torres has been charged with one felony count of throwing an object at a vehicle or an occupant of the vehicle with intent to do great bodily injury.
He also faces one felony count of vandalism, over $400, for defacement with graffiti.
Torres' bail was requested to be set at $775,000. If convicted as charged, he faces seven years and four months in prison.
Last Friday, during one of these increasingly intense Trump policy protests, a younger person was stabbed outside of Los Angeles City Hall.
LAPD made an arrest, and Hochman says no charging decisions have been made in that case, "lawful protests will be upheld, will be protected [but] criminal actions during those protests will be prosecuted."
As for future protests, the protesters will have less space if they continue.
On Monday morning, a chain-link fence was put up around Grand Park, directly across from the Spring Street side of Los Angeles City Hall.
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