The district attorney’s office has only confirmed that a hundred or so offenders have been charged criminally out of the 575 arrests made so far in connection with the anti-immigration and customs police unrest that started earlier this month.
Following many times of violence, widespread stealing, theft, and assault against immigration enforcement agents, Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman, an impartial, announced last week that more than a dozen defendants had been charged with crimes related to the anti-ICE uprisings.
A common data specialist recently stated that prosecutor reviews arrests on a case-by-case foundation to determine whether to file criminal charges.
Lawyers are deciding whether cases may get filed, declined, or referred to other companies in accordance with the law, according to the director, who spoke to the Washington Examiner. We are currently gathering data about how many protest-related complaints have been handled by our business, and we will provide information when we have them.
Did LA ATTACH THE RIOTS ARRESTSTS?
Hochman outlined five of the situations that have been filed so far at a press conference held on Wednesday at the Hall of Justice.
Juan Rodriguez, 47, of Gardena, California, is facing three felonies for assaulting a harmony officer, resisting arrest, and advocating for official assault causing harm. Rodriguez reportedly allegedly threw the weapons at patrolling police officers after handing out commercial-grade lights to a group of protestors on June 8th. Additionally, Rodriguez is accused of firing the fireworks himself at soldiers, one of whom was seriously hurt by the exploding object’s using flames. Rodriguez may receive as much as six years and four times in state prison if found guilty as charged.
Randy Paul Ruiz, 27, and Georgina Ravellero, 24, are both facing felony rape charges against a peace agent. On June 8, Ruiz is accused of riding a bike into a policeman skirmish line. Minutes later, Ravellero allegedly struck a second bike into the officer line, knocking it over several others. Ruiz and Ravellero each have a sentence of up to six times and four months in prison.
Along with criminal counts of reckless driving and the hands of a tobacco system, Ulysses Sanchez, 37, of Los Angeles, is accused of felony abuse with a dangerous weapon and criminal possession of a firearm by a criminal. On June 8th, Sanchez allegedly recklessly drove a minivan directly toward protesters before throwing rocks and other objects at the vehicle as he repeatedly circled before speeding away. Sheriff’s deputies allegedly discovered a loaded “ghost gun” and a methamphetamine pipe in Sanchez’s possession upon arrest. Santos could spend up to 25 years in prison.
Both Christopher Gonzalez, age 26, of Van Nuys, California, and Yoselyn Johnson, age 40, of Los Angeles, are accused of one felony count of conspiracy to commit vandalism and two felony counts of vandalism. Johnson allegedly acted as a lookout on June 9 while Gonzalez is accused of vandalizing an apartment complex. While Johnson watched, Gonzalez allegedly painted graffiti on the exterior of the Hall of Justice while Johnson was watching. They each face county jail service for up to three years and eight months in state prison.
Both Raven Mitchell, 25, and Timmie Paulk, 29, are facing felony grand theft and second-degree commercial burglary. While Mitchell served as the getaway driver, Paulk allegedly stole goods from a Nike store that was being looted by a group of rioters on the night of June 8. They were later detained a short while after allegedly fleeing. Paulk and Mitchell each face a maximum three-year state prison sentence that could be served in county jail if found guilty.
In a press release announcing the charges, Hochman said,” I fiercely support the right to peaceful protest and to free speech, but my office will fiercely prosecute those who decide to cross a line into criminal conduct.” We will defend those who insult officers, and we will prosecute those who throw bricks, cinderblocks, or fireworks at them. An attack on our officers, on public or private property, or on public or private property is an assault on all of us, and criminals like them will be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law.
According to the district attorney’s press release, additional cases are still being looked into. In some circumstances, people were detained, questioned, and freed. Hochman’s office claims that those cases have not yet been turned over to the prosecution. The Los Angeles Police Department, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, and California Highway Patrol are still looking into the cases.
After Sunday ended with no arrests, LAPD officials announced Monday that there won’t be any more riot-related updates provided. The police department is still on tactical alert throughout the city.
Since June 7, LAPD officers have detained hundreds of alleged rioters on suspicion of assaulting police officers and attempted murder with a Molotov cocktail.
Ten police officers were hurt during crowd-control operations, and five LAPD horses, who belong to the Mounted Platoon of the police force, were targeted and hurt, according to the organization.
LAPD personnel will continue to look into body-worn police footage in order to bring appropriate charges in collaboration with the prosecution. The Professional Standards Bureau of the LAPD will also be looking into allegations of excessive force and other allegations involving law enforcement actions during the demonstrations.
To stop the mob violence, police units used tear gas, a typical dispersal tactic and less-lethal weapon. Authorities claim that activist organizers arranged their movements using handheld radios to obstruct law enforcement. Some standoffs lasted for hours.
In response to ICE’s crackdown on illegal immigration in Los Angeles, Hochman issued a statement stating that “immigration enforcement is federal jurisdiction and not within our office’s authority.”
Let’s be clear, Hochman said,” Our office does not prosecute people for their immigration status.”
Hochman said his office is aware of” the real and profound impact these operations have on the trust between immigrant communities and local law enforcement.”
The LAPD has also made a point of keeping a distance from immigration enforcement.
LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell reaffirmed that the city’s police officers are not permitted to assist in deportation efforts in response to concerns raised by immigrants who are residing in the city under department policy.
The LAPD is not involved in civil immigration enforcement, McDonnell said in a statement.” I’m aware that these actions cause anxiety for many Angelenos, so I want to make it clear that. While the LAPD will continue to be visible in all of our communities to protect the safety of the public, we will not participate in or assist in any kind of mass deportations, nor will the LAPD attempt to determine an individual’s immigration status.
The LAPD put a policy in place in 1979 that effectively shields “undocumented aliens” from the threat of law enforcement detection. Officers are prohibited from initiating police action under Special Order 40 with the sole intention of determining a person’s immigration status. In accordance with the law, LAPD officers are unable to arrest people for breaking U.S. immigration laws.
McDonnell claimed that the protests remained peaceful two days into the anti-ICE uprisings.
Despite Democratic support, federal law enforcement is bringing up rioter-related charges.
CLICK HERE to see who was ice-arrested before police started to search Los Angeles
The U.S. Justice Department , which released an internal directive to all 94 U.S. attorneys last week to order prosecutors to prioritize charges against rioters who assault or break into law enforcement, and to make these cases public to prevent further unrest.
At least 14 defendants have been charged by the DOJ in Los Angeles alone, including a man who is accused of handing out” Bionic Shield” face masks to alleged rioters. Alejandro Theodoro Orellana, Â is accused of conspiring to commit civil disorder by providing such protective equipment.
