At Least 40 People Arrested Near Staples Center On Election Night

LOS ANGELES, CA — Dozens of people were arrested in downtown Los Angeles last night after LAPD declared an unlawful assembly near Staples Center. The order was announced at 8:11 p.m. near Pico Boulevard and Figueroa Street due to what LAPD called a "large and unruly crowd."

Black Lives Matter-Los Angeles was holding a viewing party in the area, and a group of anti-Jackie Lacey protesters had gathered to make a final push to defeat the incumbent District Attorney on Election Night. As the night wore on, police set up skirmish lines and eventually detained several people for failing to disperse during an unlawful assembly.

LAPD surrounded and cited a group of about 30 people in an intersection near Los Angeles Trade-Technical College, Officer Mike Lopez told reporters shortly before midnight. Later, about 40 people were arrested after police said they walked onto the Metro A (Blue Line) railroad tracks and ignored orders to leave.

"We have a lot of police presence due to the election," Lopez said. "We were prepared for anything that might come about and were able to respond right away."

According to L.A. Times, five legal observers from the National Lawyers Guild of Los Angeles were also arrested.

“It’s very unusual. The LAPD is well aware of our role there,” said Richard Ybarra, interim executive director.

One demonstrator told FOX that police believed people in the crowd were about to start looting in the area.

"They [told] us they had implemented undercover cops, and based off their intel, we were planning on looting," he said. "But that’s the furthest thing from the truth."

Dozens of protesters were marching away from Staples Center on Venice Boulevard shortly after 8 p.m.

"Due to a large and unruly crowd, the LAPD has declared an unlawful assembly & issued a dispersal order in the area of Pico & Figueroa northwest corner," the department wrote on twitter. "At this time, anyone in the area is to leave immediately and follow all orders from any police officer. This area is now closed."

LAPD sent out a second unlawful assembly order at 9:38 p.m. south of Staples Center in the area of Figueroa Street and 18th Street. Social media footage showed several officers setting up a skirmish line along Figueroa Street as they ordered people to leave.

City News Service and Kenan Draughorne contributed to this report.