Los Angeles police Wednesday were investigating a vehicle collision that appeared to involve agents who fired less-lethal or pepper ball rounds at a white car that was cornered by two vehicles in Boyle Heights before someone inside was taken into custody and whisked from the scene.
The incident was reported at 10:47 a.m. in the 3700 block of Whittier Boulevard, near Calzona Street, according to a Los Angeles Police Department spokesman.
Video from the scene showed an SUV hitting the passenger side of a white Mercedes-Benz while a second SUV hits and blocks the front left of the car, pinning it in place.
With the car immobilized, people wearing bulletproof vests emerged from both vehicles pointing weapons at the Mercedes, and seconds later, at least one of them fires some sort of less-than-lethal rounds at the car.
The driver of the Mercedes quickly emerges from the car with his hands in the air, and he is seen being taken into custody. The man was placed in one of the other vehicles and driven away, while one of the possible agents pulls the Mercedes to the side of the road, before also driving away from the scene, according to a broadcast report.
A woman with a child in her arms subsequently emerged from the white Mercedes and is seen interacting with the unidentified agents, whose vests had “Police” printed on the back.
A witness told KTLA there were two children in the car, and some type of canister, possibly a tear gas canister, was left behind in the street.
An LAPD spokesman referred questions to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.