Dodger fans poured into the streets of downtown, East Los Angeles and other parts of the Southland Wednesday evening to celebrate the team's World Series victory, prompting the Los Angeles Police Department to declare a citywide tactical alert.
The alert allowed the agency to keep officers on duty beyond their normal shifts to ensure there is enough staffing to any incidents that may arise.
Shortly after the Dodgers claimed the World Series title, fans could be seen gathering in downtown streets near L.A. Live, with some people setting off fireworks. The LAPD issued a dispersal order for the crowd that was deemed an unlawful assembly near Olympic Boulevard and Figueroa Street.
On social media, the LAPD posted, "We know you want to celebrate the Dodgers World Series win, but please do not head to the downtown LA area. There are many streets closed in the downtown LA area and traffic will be heavily impacted. Please celebrate responsibly."
In anticipation of possible gatherings, police had earlier announced the closure of Figueroa between Olympic and Pico boulevards, as well as other streets around the L.A. Live area. The Sixth Street Bridge, a popular street- takeover spot, was also closed.
Crowds of celebrants also gathered in the vicinity of Dodger Stadium, and police issued a dispersal order as a crowd grew at the intersection of Sunset Boulevard and Vin Scully Avenue, and later at the nearby intersection of Sunset and Douglas Street.
In East Los Angeles, where Dodger celebrations have occurred in the past, including some street and intersection takeovers, Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department deputies were out in full force. Multiple intersections on Whittier Boulevard were blocked off to traffic, but crowds of fans began pouring into some streets waving flags and igniting fireworks, regardless of the law enforcement presence.
By around 10 p.m., hundreds of people had moved onto Whittier Boulevard. Some waved flags while fireworks continued shooting into the air. One person could be seen on top of a car in the street.
Aerial footage from the scene showed at least one truck doing donuts at an intersection in the area, while a large crowd of people stood nearby.
There were no immediate reports of arrests or injuries.
The LAPD announced prior to Wednesday's game that it would activate a command post dedicated to monitoring possible unruly celebrations, enabling more effective deployment of personnel.
"LAPD has activated our Department Operations Center to monitor the city, and we will also have high-visibility patrol units deployed and additional resources available if needed," LAPD Assistant Chief Blake Chow said in a statement. "While we understand the excitement surrounding the Dodgers, we are asking the public to please celebrate responsibly. Activities like drunk driving and street takeovers put lives at risk, so please be reminded that anyone who breaks the law will be held accountable."
After the Dodgers won Game 3 of the series on Monday, unruly fans gathered at Atlantic and Olympic boulevards in East Los Angeles, where Los Angeles County sheriff's deputies declared an unlawful assembly and dispersed the crowd after fireworks were set off and cars were seen performing stunts in the street.
On Tuesday, Sheriff Robert Luna joined LAPD in urging fans to celebrate peacefully.
"We're going to warn, we're going to give several warnings, dispersal orders, but we're going to take action, and we're going to make arrests, we're going to impound cars that are doing donuts in intersections, because that is dangerous," Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna said Tuesday.
"I don't want anybody to get hurt," Luna said. "Can you imagine going out to celebrate, and then we have to make a notification to someone's parents that their son or daughter was just killed in an intersection for a takeover of something like that? Let's celebrate properly."
A dispersal order was issued at Ninth and Flower Streets in downtown Los Angeles late in the 10:00 PM hour due to an unlawful assembly with hostile crowds throwing fireworks and projectiles at police officers, the Los Angeles Police Department reports.
Pedestrians and motorists are asked to leave the area immediately and follow all officers' orders.
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