As the parade for the World Series champion Dodgers wrapped up Monday with thousands lining the streets of downtown Los Angeles, police worked to restore normal traffic flow, dispersing crowds and ordering media to leave the area — while arresting two people and citing another amid scattered unruliness.
The parade stepped off about 11 a.m., but crowds began lining the route hours earlier. Fans cheered as the champs rode by atop open-air, double-decker buses.
Everything seemed to go smoothly, but as the parade came to an end and the buses headed to a packed Dodger Stadium for a continuing celebration, the LAPD began issuing statements on social media that indicated some in the parade crowd were not dispersing.
About 12:30 p.m., the California Highway Patrol put out an officer-needs-help call after fans surrounded and vandalized a cruiser and forced officers to dive out of the area at Eighth and Figueroa streets.
Police said there were reports of “industrial size fireworks” being set off, and motorcycles were racing in the area of Eighth and Flower streets.
The LAPD’s Central Division also reported that people were placing steel bike racks in intersections and in the middle of streets.
Dispersal orders were issued about 12:45 p.m., but 30 minutes later, crowds were still lingering in couple of areas, according to the LAPD.
A DJ even set up shop at Seventh and Grand avenues, drawing a crowd of about 700 people, prompting police to order him to shut it down and for the crowd to disperse or face arrest.
At least two people were taken into custody, according to LAPD Officer Drake Madison. One individual was arrested on suspicion of battery on a police officer, while the other was on suspicion of public intoxication.
Madison said another individual was cited for selling alcohol without a permit.
As of about 1:25 p.m. there were also no serious injuries reported, and no one required hospital transport, a Los Angeles Fire Department spokeswoman said.