The district attorney’s office has merely confirmed that a hundred or so suspects have been charged criminally among the 575 arrests made so far in connection with the anti-immigration and conventions police protests 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.
According to the director,” Cases are being presented to our company for processing thought and lawyers are determining whether situations should be filed, declined, or referred to other agencies in accordance with the law,” the spokesperson told the Washington Examiner. We are currently gathering data about how many protest-related complaints have been handled by our office, and we will provide details when we have them.
WILL LA SECRET THE AREAS ARRESTED IN THE RIOTS?
Hochman outlined five of the cases 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 peace officer, resisting arrest, and advocating for officer violence causing harm. Rodriguez allegedly allegedly threw the projectiles at patrolling police officers after handing out commercial-grade fireworks to a group of rioters on June 8th. Additionally, Rodriguez is accused of firing the fireworks himself at officers, one of whom was seriously hurt by the exploding device’s burning sparks. Rodriguez could receive as much as six years and four months in state prison if found guilty as charged.
Randy Paul Ruiz, 27, and Georgina Ravellero, 24, are facing two felonies for assaulting a peace officer. On June 8, Ruiz is accused of riding a motorcycle into a police skirmish line. Minutes later, Ravellero allegedly struck a second motorcycle into the officer line, knocking over several others. Ruiz and Ravellero each have a sentence of up to six years and four months in prison.
Ulysses Sanchez, 37, of Los Angeles, is accused of felony assault with a deadly weapon and felony possession of a firearm by a felon in addition to misdemeanor counts of reckless driving and smoking device possession. 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 Sanchez’s possession with a loaded “ghost gun” and a methamphetamine pipe upon arrest. Santos could spend up to 25 years in prison.
Both Christopher Gonzalez, age 26, and Yoselyn Johnson, age 40, both of Los Angeles, are facing felony counts 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 Hall of Justice’s exterior about an hour later. 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 was the getaway driver, Paulk allegedly stole goods from a group of rioters who were looting a Nike store on 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 enter criminal territory.” We will prosecute those who hurl bricks, cinderblocks, or fireworks at officers, and we will protect those who hurl insults. An attack on our officers, on public or private property, or on any other property is an assault on all of us, and criminals will be held accountable to the fullest extent permitted by the law.
According to the district attorney’s press release, additional cases are still being looked into. In some cases, people were detained, questioned, and freed. Those cases, however, have not yet been turned over to the prosecution, Hochman’s office claims. The Los Angeles Police Department, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, and California Highway Patrol are still looking into the cases.
After Sunday ended without any arrests, LAPD officials announced Monday that there won’t be any more riot-related updates. 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 attempted murder, assault, and other crimes.
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 review body-worn police footage in order to pursue appropriate charges. The Professional Standards Bureau of the LAPD will also be conducting an investigation 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, under department policy, to assist in deportation efforts in order to address concerns among immigrants who are unlawfully residing in the city.
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 solely to determine a person’s immigration status. In accordance with U.S. immigration law, LAPD officers are unable to arrest people for violating the law.
McDonnell claimed that the protests remained peaceful two days after the anti-ICE uprisings.
Federal law enforcement, in contrast, are upping the prosecution of rioters despite Democratic opposition.
Last week, the U.S. Justice Department  began filing federal charges quickly, with an internal memo sent to all 94 U.S. attorneys directing prosecutors to prioritize charges against rioters who assault or break into law enforcement and accordingly make these cases public to deter further unrest.
The DOJ has charged at least 14 defendants in Los Angeles alone, including a man accused of handing out” Bionic Shield” face masks to alleged rioters. Alejandro Theodoro Orellana, a witness, is accused of conspiring to commit civil disorder by providing these protective equipment.
