A man was arrested Friday for allegedly throwing rocks at California Highway Patrol officers from a downtown freeway overpass then dropping a burning object onto a parked patrol car that caught fire on the highway — creating one of the most memorable images of the recent protests sparked by federal immigration raids.
Adam Palermo, 39, of Los Angeles, was arrested on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon against a peace officer, according to the CHP.
Palermo is suspected of throwing items from the an overpass of the Hollywood (101) Freeway in downtown Los Angeles during protests on Sunday.
According to the CHP, officers responded Sunday when more than 1,000 protesters marched onto the 101 Freeway. Officers managed to clear protesters from the roadway, but in the aftermath, several CHP patrol vehicles were parked on the freeway and several officers were forced to take shelter beneath an overpass due to people above throwing rocks, scooters and other items onto the highway below.
“At this time, an individual, later identified as Adam Palermo, was seen throwing numerous rocks at responding CHP officers and patrol vehicles from an overcrossing,” according to the CHP. “After throwing the rocks, Palermo lit an object on fire and dropped it onto a CHP patrol vehicle. The object landed on the CHP patrol vehicle, causing the patrol vehicle to catch fire.
“To extinguish the fire, CHP (Special Response Team) officers had to put themselves in danger from thrown rocks and bottles.”
Video of people hurling objects onto the parked CHP patrol cars was widely broadcast.
According to the CHP, Palermo was identified as the suspect “with assistance from the public.”
He was arrested Friday morning outside his Los Angeles residence. CHP officials said that after the arrest, investigators searched his home and “located evidence of the crime.”
“The California Highway Patrol will not tolerate attacks against our officers under any circumstances,” CHP Commissioner Sean Duryee said in a statement. “Our personnel put themselves in harm’s way to protect the public, and anyone who targets them with violence will be identified, pursued, and held fully accountable under the law.”
Gov. Gavin Newsom said in a statement, “Violent and deliberate attacks on law enforcement will not be tolerated in California. Period.”
He said he was “grateful to the state investigators and law enforcement who tracked down this suspect and are continuing to uphold the rule of law.”