latimes--2020-06-02--Arrests during George Floyd protests swell to near 3,000 in L.A. County; many are locals

Nearly 3,000 demonstrators in Southern California have found themselves in handcuffs after taking to the streets since Friday to condemn the death of George Floyd and the use of excessive force by police .
Booking records reviewed by The Times show the vast majority of those arrested in Los Angeles County for looting , vandalism and burglary offenses are from here , seeming to refute perceptions of “ outside agitators ” coming in to fuel unrest .
The bulk of those arrests have taken place in Los Angeles , where authorities have taken approximately 2,500 people into custody between Friday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ peaceful protests and property destruction rocked downtown , the Fairfax District , Van Nuys and Hollywood , according to LAPD Chief Michel Moore .
Santa Monica and Long Beach police arrested an additional 475 people during largely peaceful protests that were also overshadowed by looting in both cities Sunday .
Floyd was an unarmed black Minneapolis man who died in custody after a white police officer kneeled on his neck for several minutes despite Floyd ’ s pleas that he couldn ’ t breathe .
Former police officer Derek Chauvin has been charged @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other officers on scene to be prosecuted have continued .
Police officials in each jurisdiction have released only general information about who was arrested , and why .
The Times has requested specific information about arrests from each city where looting and protests have occurred , and received only a partial response from the Los Angeles Police Department as of Tuesday morning .
Long Beach officials promised to provide information “ shortly , ” and multiple calls and emails to a Santa Monica police spokesman were not returned .
Based on public statements @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Times , it appears the vast majority of those being taken into custody have been cited and released for either failing to obey an order to disperse or violating a city or county curfew order .
On Friday , during large-scale protests in downtown L.A. , police arrested 533 people on suspicion of burglary , looting , probation violations , battery on a police officer , attempted murder and failure to disperse .
All but 18 of those people were released , according to an LAPD statement .
Josh Rubenstein , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the majority of those arrested Friday were cited and eventually released for failing to disperse after the department declared all of downtown to be an unlawful assembly , but he could not immediately provide a specific number .
The department said it arrested an additional 398 people during Saturday ’ s protests and LAPD Chief Michel Moore estimated about 700 people had been arrested Sunday .
Moore said about 10 % of Sunday ’ s arrests were linked to burglary and looting .
An additional 585 people were arrested in Hollywood alone Monday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ according to two law enforcement sources who spoke to The Times on condition of anonymity in order to discuss the matter candidly .
Just 20 of those people were booked in connection with looting , though police also impounded about 50 vehicles , the sources said .
During a meeting of the city ’ s civilian Police Commission Tuesday morning , Moore said a total of 2,500 people had been arrested since Friday .
Given the department had confirmed upwards of 1,600 arrests had taken place over the weekend , that suggested more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the most yet during an individual night of unrest .
A review of booking records available to The Times shows 575 people have been arrested between Friday and Tuesday on suspicion of crimes likely related to violence during the protests — including looting , robbery , vandalism , burglary and attacking police .
Those booking records do not show those taken into custody for failing to disperse , curfew violations or other lesser offenses for which there is no bail schedule , meaning those persons would have been cited and released by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ booking records seem to throw cold water on national speculation that outside agitators — either left-wing anarchists or white supremacists — have been driving the violence and looting in Los Angeles .
Of the 575 people arrested for related crimes , 537 of them live in Los Angeles County , records show .
An LAPD official with knowledge of the situation also told The Times that the department has not developed any intelligence about outside interlopers stoking bedlam during the protests .
Asked specifically if anti-fascist demonstrators have been involved in the unrest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ alleged , the official said , “ if they are , they ’ re not getting arrested.
” Santa Monica Police Chief Cynthia Renaud also estimated that 95 % of those arrested Sunday did not live in the city , but she did not offer additional information about where she believed the looters or demonstrators came from .
The Times has interviewed several people arrested in Santa Monica on Sunday who say they traveled from other parts of L.A. County to participate in the demonstrations and were arrested for curfew violations .
Santa @ @ @ @ @ @ @ miles in size , is bordered on all sides by Los Angeles neighborhoods .
In addition , the LAPD has been collecting evidence throughout the protests , mostly in the form of video that could be used to identify individuals and bring charges against them in the future .
The FBI on Monday also put out a nationwide call for pictures and videos that could help identify people “ actively instigating violence ” at protests across the country .

Protestors are arrested for violating curfew along Sunset Blvd. at Gower in Hollywood.
Nearly 3,000 demonstrators in Southern California have found themselves in handcuffs after taking to the streets since Friday to condemn the death of George Floyd and the use of excessive force by police.
Booking records reviewed by The Times show the vast majority of those arrested in Los Angeles County for looting, vandalism and burglary offenses are from here, seeming to refute perceptions of “outside agitators” coming in to fuel unrest.
The bulk of those arrests have taken place in Los Angeles, where authorities have taken approximately 2,500 people into custody between Friday and Tuesday morning after a mix of peaceful protests and property destruction rocked downtown, the Fairfax District, Van Nuys and Hollywood, according to LAPD Chief Michel Moore.
Santa Monica and Long Beach police arrested an additional 475 people during largely peaceful protests that were also overshadowed by looting in both cities Sunday.
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Floyd was an unarmed black Minneapolis man who died in custody after a white police officer kneeled on his neck for several minutes despite Floyd’s pleas that he couldn’t breathe. Former police officer Derek Chauvin has been charged in his death but calls for the other officers on scene to be prosecuted have continued.
Police officials in each jurisdiction have released only general information about who was arrested, and why. The Times has requested specific information about arrests from each city where looting and protests have occurred, and received only a partial response from the Los Angeles Police Department as of Tuesday morning. Long Beach officials promised to provide information “shortly,” and multiple calls and emails to a Santa Monica police spokesman were not returned.
1 / 40 A Van Nuys watch and jewelry store is broken into Monday. (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times) 2 / 40 An LAPD officer arrests a looting suspect in an alley behind a Hollywood Boulevard store. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) 3 / 40 A looting arrest in Van Nuys. (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times) 4 / 40 AJ Lovelace tries to stop people from breaking into a Walgreens store at Santa Monica Boulevard and Highland Avenue. “We need peace, and we need someone to talk to each other,” he said after they fled the scene. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) 5 / 40 An LAPD officer arrests a looting suspect in an alley behind a Hollywood Boulevard store. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) 6 / 40 People break into and burglarize a store in Hollywood. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) 7 / 40 National Guardsmen outside Santa Monica Place. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times) 8 / 40 People exit a looted store in Santa Monica on Sunday. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) 9 / 40 People are taken into custody for curfew violations suspects in Santa Monica on Sunday. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) 10 / 40 An arrest in Santa Monica on Sunday. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) 11 / 40 A looted store in Santa Monica. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) 12 / 40 People exit a looted store in Long Beach on Sunday. (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times) 13 / 40 A police officer inspects the damage to a supermarket. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) 14 / 40 Looting in Long Beach on Sunday. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) 15 / 40 Looting in Long Beach. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) 16 / 40 A man smashes windows in Santa Monica. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) 17 / 40 People walk away with stolen surfboards in Santa Monica on Sunday. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) 18 / 40 A person rushes out of a looted store in Santa Monica. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) 19 / 40 A shattered storefront on Melrose Avenue on Sunday. (Christina House / Los Angeles Times) 20 / 40 Smashed windows on La Cienega Boulevard. (Christina House / Los Angeles Times) 21 / 40 People taking stolen goods on Saturday. (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times) 22 / 40 People carry items taken from stores that were broken into in the Fairfax District on Saturday in Los Angeles. (Kent Nishimura/Los Angeles Times) 23 / 40 A person kicks in the door of a Whole Foods Market in the Fairfax District of Los Angeles on Saturday. (Kent Nishimura/Los Angeles Times) 24 / 40 Police arrest looters at Whole Foods Market in the Fairfax District on Saturday in Los Angeles. (Kent Nishimura/Los Angeles Times) 25 / 40 A man leaves the broken-into Apple Store with merchandise at the Grove in the Fairfax District in Los Angeles. (Gary Coronado/Los Angeles Times) 26 / 40 Los Angeles police contain protesters at the Farmers Market as they demonstrate in the Fairfax District of Los Angeles. (Gary Coronado/Los Angeles Times) 27 / 40 Looters ransack a Walgreens store along Broadway in downtown Los Angeles on Saturday. (Luis Sinco/Los Angeles Times) 28 / 40 People ransack Spokes ‘N Stuff in the Melrose District of Los Angeles. (Gary Coronado/Los Angeles Times) 29 / 40 Protesters break windows along Figueroa Street in downtown Los Angeles on Saturday. (Luis Sinco/Los Angeles Times) 30 / 40 People run from a burglarized jewelry store as LAPD officers approach in downtown Los Angeles. (Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times) 31 / 40 People run from a burglarized jewelry store as LAPD officers approach in downtown Los Angeles. (Wally Skali/Los Angeles Times) 32 / 40 A man breaks a window with a bat in downtown Los Angeles. (Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times) 33 / 40 A man steals liquor bottles from Terroni restaurant in downtown Los Angeles on Friday. (Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times) 34 / 40 Police officers stand outside a damaged business in downtown Los Angeles on Friday. (Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times) 35 / 40 People break into a Rite Aid store in downtown Los Angeles on Friday. (Luis Sinco/Los Angeles Times) 36 / 40 People take liquor and beer from a Rite Aid store in downtown Los Angeles on Friday. (Luis Sinco/Los Angeles Times) 37 / 40 People take jewelry from a store in downtown Los Angeles on Friday. (Luis Sinco/Los Angeles Times) 38 / 40 People look for jewelry on the floor at a jewelry store in downtown Los Angeles on Friday. (Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times) 39 / 40 People run from a looted jewelry store as LAPD officers approach in downtown Los Angeles on Friday. (Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times) 40 / 40 A man smashes the window of a business in downtown Los Angeles on Friday. (Luis Sinco/Los Angeles Times)
Based on public statements from officials and booking records reviewed by The Times, it appears the vast majority of those being taken into custody have been cited and released for either failing to obey an order to disperse or violating a city or county curfew order.
On Friday, during large-scale protests in downtown L.A., police arrested 533 people on suspicion of burglary, looting, probation violations, battery on a police officer, attempted murder and failure to disperse. All but 18 of those people were released, according to an LAPD statement.
Josh Rubenstein, the department’s chief spokesman, said the majority of those arrested Friday were cited and eventually released for failing to disperse after the department declared all of downtown to be an unlawful assembly, but he could not immediately provide a specific number.
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The department said it arrested an additional 398 people during Saturday’s protests and LAPD Chief Michel Moore estimated about 700 people had been arrested Sunday. Moore said about 10% of Sunday’s arrests were linked to burglary and looting.
An additional 585 people were arrested in Hollywood alone Monday night, mostly for curfew violations, according to two law enforcement sources who spoke to The Times on condition of anonymity in order to discuss the matter candidly. Just 20 of those people were booked in connection with looting, though police also impounded about 50 vehicles, the sources said.
During a meeting of the city’s civilian Police Commission Tuesday morning, Moore said a total of 2,500 people had been arrested since Friday. Given the department had confirmed upwards of 1,600 arrests had taken place over the weekend, that suggested more than 800 people were arrested Monday night, the most yet during an individual night of unrest.
A review of booking records available to The Times shows 575 people have been arrested between Friday and Tuesday on suspicion of crimes likely related to violence during the protests — including looting, robbery, vandalism, burglary and attacking police. Those booking records do not show those taken into custody for failing to disperse, curfew violations or other lesser offenses for which there is no bail schedule, meaning those persons would have been cited and released by police on the same day.
The booking records seem to throw cold water on national speculation that outside agitators — either left-wing anarchists or white supremacists — have been driving the violence and looting in Los Angeles. Of the 575 people arrested for related crimes, 537 of them live in Los Angeles County, records show.
An LAPD official with knowledge of the situation also told The Times that the department has not developed any intelligence about outside interlopers stoking bedlam during the protests. Asked specifically if anti-fascist demonstrators have been involved in the unrest, as President Trump and others have alleged, the official said, “if they are, they’re not getting arrested.”
Santa Monica Police Chief Cynthia Renaud also estimated that 95% of those arrested Sunday did not live in the city, but she did not offer additional information about where she believed the looters or demonstrators came from.
The Times has interviewed several people arrested in Santa Monica on Sunday who say they traveled from other parts of L.A. County to participate in the demonstrations and were arrested for curfew violations. Santa Monica, a city roughly eight square miles in size, is bordered on all sides by Los Angeles neighborhoods.
In addition, the LAPD has been collecting evidence throughout the protests, mostly in the form of video that could be used to identify individuals and bring charges against them in the future. The FBI on Monday also put out a nationwide call for pictures and videos that could help identify people “actively instigating violence” at protests across the country.
Times staff writer Richard Winton contributed to this report.


latimes--2020-06-02--Protests rage in Bay Area and Sacramento, with less tolerance of thieves and vandals

They marched past Mark Zuckerberg ’ s house in Palo Alto .
They assembled in Cesar Chavez Plaza in Sacramento .
Protesters by the thousands rallied in Oakland and other cities in the Bay Area and Northern California on Monday evening , with the demonstrations accompanied by fewer robberies and less property damage than the night before .
In Oakland and Walnut Creek , however , generally peaceful protests evolved into melees , with police firing tear gas at protesters in both cities , according to media reports .
It was the Bay Area ’ s fourth night of protests @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Minnesota police officer kneeling on the neck of a black man , George Floyd , who died .
While looting and vandalism seemed to drop after Sunday night , police shot and wounded a man suspected of breaking into a Walgreens in Vallejo , according to a news release from the Vallejo Police Department .
Vallejo and the Solano County District Attorney have launched a joint investigation .
In the San Francisco peninsula , protests popped up , intensifying as the day grew long .
In Palo Alto , a demonstration of 150-200 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ many of the region ’ s major thoroughfares , including University Ave. Demonstrators moved by car , foot and bicycle , chanting “ we can ’ t breathe !
” and , at around 11 p.m. , they moved west across the 101 , from East Palo Alto , to the upscale Palo Alto neighborhood of Crescent Park .
Slowly moving through the winding streets , they passed by the house of Mark Zuckerberg , the founder of Facebook .
Drivers leaned on their horns as young people — sitting on the tops @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pickup trucks — chanted “ wake up !
” Most of the houses remained dark .
A few homeowners stood on their lawns , clapping for the demonstrators .
In one house , three white teenagers looked out their front window .
Eventually , one opened the window and bellowed out an encouraging whoop .
The demonstrators mostly cheered , except for one young woman , who replied : “ You watch us from your multimillion-dollar home .
If you don ’ t march , you are complicit !
” As the protest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Palo Alto and Menlo Park , dozens of police cars and tactical vehicles played cat and mouse with the demonstrators — trying to anticipate the crowd ’ s movement , then redoubling when in error .
Between 6:30 p.m. and 1 a.m. , when the demonstration all but died down , the police — which included squads from East Palo Alto , Menlo Park , San Mateo County and Redwood City — prevented the demonstrators from reoccupying Highway 101 .
Demonstrators were mostly peaceful .
A few people ignited fireworks , and one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a police barricade .
By contrast , Sacramento was much calmer .
About 600 peaceful protesters held a vigil in a park during the afternoon before breaking a citywide curfew to march until about 10 p.m .
The protesters circled downtown blocks , stopping in front of buildings where National Guard troops stood with guns in hand .
Earlier in the day , 500 Guard members arrived at the request of city and county officials to aid local law enforcement after a previous night of vandalism and stealing left millions of dollars of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ leaders of Monday night ’ s protest were clear that no such violence would be tolerated .
When one marcher jumped on top of a military Humvee parked in front of the district attorney ’ s office , others in the crowd quickly condemned the action and made the man get down .
As in Palo Alto , roughly half the Sacramento protesters were wearing masks , despite a pandemic that has so far killed 4,222 Californians and infected 115,000 in the state .
At 10 p.m. , organizers asked everyone to go @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rally at the Capitol .
Police made about a 50 arrests for those who refused to leave the area , but most complied .
By 11 p.m. , there were more law enforcement and military in the area than protesters .
In Oakland , an estimated 15,000 people protested peacefully much of Monday , according to a report from the Mercury News .
In Walnut Creek , police responded in force , firing tear gas and rubber bullets when a few hundred protesters walked onto Interstate 680 .
Curfews were in place in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are expected to continue Tuesday night .

Susanne Rust, Anita Chabria, Kristi Sturgill

Protesters chained together June 1 block the intersection of Broadway and 7th Street in front of the Oakland Police Department.
They marched past Mark Zuckerberg’s house in Palo Alto. They assembled in Cesar Chavez Plaza in Sacramento. Protesters by the thousands rallied in Oakland and other cities in the Bay Area and Northern California on Monday evening, with the demonstrations accompanied by fewer robberies and less property damage than the night before.
In Oakland and Walnut Creek, however, generally peaceful protests evolved into melees, with police firing tear gas at protesters in both cities, according to media reports. It was the Bay Area’s fourth night of protests amid a national uproar over a white Minnesota police officer kneeling on the neck of a black man, George Floyd, who died.
While looting and vandalism seemed to drop after Sunday night, police shot and wounded a man suspected of breaking into a Walgreens in Vallejo, according to a news release from the Vallejo Police Department. Vallejo and the Solano County District Attorney have launched a joint investigation.
In the San Francisco peninsula, protests popped up, intensifying as the day grew long. In Palo Alto, a demonstration of 150-200 people periodically closed down Highway 101 and many of the region’s major thoroughfares, including University Ave.
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Demonstrators moved by car, foot and bicycle, chanting “we can’t breathe!” and, at around 11 p.m., they moved west across the 101, from East Palo Alto, to the upscale Palo Alto neighborhood of Crescent Park.
Slowly moving through the winding streets, they passed by the house of Mark Zuckerberg, the founder of Facebook. Drivers leaned on their horns as young people — sitting on the tops of minivans and in the backs of pickup trucks — chanted “wake up!”
Most of the houses remained dark. A few homeowners stood on their lawns, clapping for the demonstrators. In one house, three white teenagers looked out their front window. Eventually, one opened the window and bellowed out an encouraging whoop.
The demonstrators mostly cheered, except for one young woman, who replied: “You watch us from your multimillion-dollar home. If you don’t march, you are complicit!”
As the protest caravan wound through Palo Alto, East Palo Alto and Menlo Park, dozens of police cars and tactical vehicles played cat and mouse with the demonstrators — trying to anticipate the crowd’s movement, then redoubling when in error.
Between 6:30 p.m. and 1 a.m., when the demonstration all but died down, the police — which included squads from East Palo Alto, Menlo Park, San Mateo County and Redwood City — prevented the demonstrators from reoccupying Highway 101.
Demonstrators were mostly peaceful. A few people ignited fireworks, and one could be seen shooting them directly at a police barricade.
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By contrast, Sacramento was much calmer. About 600 peaceful protesters held a vigil in a park during the afternoon before breaking a citywide curfew to march until about 10 p.m.
The protesters circled downtown blocks, stopping in front of buildings where National Guard troops stood with guns in hand. Earlier in the day, 500 Guard members arrived at the request of city and county officials to aid local law enforcement after a previous night of vandalism and stealing left millions of dollars of damage in the downtown core.
But leaders of Monday night’s protest were clear that no such violence would be tolerated. When one marcher jumped on top of a military Humvee parked in front of the district attorney’s office, others in the crowd quickly condemned the action and made the man get down.
As in Palo Alto, roughly half the Sacramento protesters were wearing masks, despite a pandemic that has so far killed 4,222 Californians and infected 115,000 in the state.
At 10 p.m., organizers asked everyone to go home and come back Tuesday for a rally at the Capitol. Police made about a 50 arrests for those who refused to leave the area, but most complied. By 11 p.m., there were more law enforcement and military in the area than protesters.
In Oakland, an estimated 15,000 people protested peacefully much of Monday, according to a report from the Mercury News. In Walnut Creek, police responded in force, firing tear gas and rubber bullets when a few hundred protesters walked onto Interstate 680.
Curfews were in place in Sacramento and many Bay Area cities and are expected to continue Tuesday night.


latimes--2020-06-02--Self-proclaimed vampire suspected of killing fellow inmate in prison shower

Authorities are investigating whether a convicted murderer who claimed to be an ancient vampire and drank the blood of his victims after slashing their throats may have killed a fellow inmate in a prison shower .
Joshua Rudiger , 42 , has been placed into segregated housing pending an investigation , according to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation .
Authorities say he was in the showers at the California Health Care Facility in Stockton at the same time that 40-year-old Aaron Coderre was attacked .
Prison staff found Coderre unresponsive about 4:30 p.m. Sunday .
They attempted to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to an injury consistent with being attacked by a weapon , ” authorities said .
The death is being investigated as a homicide .
Coderre was serving a life sentence with the possibility of parole for first-degree attempted murder , authorities said .
Rudiger , of Oakland , was convicted of second-degree murder and assault after attacking four homeless San Francisco residents in 1998 so he could drink their blood , according to the San Francisco Chronicle .
One of Rudiger ’ s victims died after he slashed her throat , the newspaper @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Rudiger has a history of mental illness and told police in a videotaped statement that he was a 2,000-year-old vampire .
During the trial , Rudiger ’ s attorney said his client drank his victims ’ blood to obtain “ vitality , ” the newspaper reported at the time .
Rudiger was sentenced to life with the possibility of parole , according to the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation .
The facility where he is being held provides mental and medical health care “ to inmates who have the most severe and long-term @ @ @ @ @ @ @

Joshua Rudiger, 42, is under investigation in the death of a fellow inmate at the California Health Care Facility in Stockton, authorities said.
Authorities are investigating whether a convicted murderer who claimed to be an ancient vampire and drank the blood of his victims after slashing their throats may have killed a fellow inmate in a prison shower.
Joshua Rudiger, 42, has been placed into segregated housing pending an investigation, according to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. Authorities say he was in the showers at the California Health Care Facility in Stockton at the same time that 40-year-old Aaron Coderre was attacked.
Prison staff found Coderre unresponsive about 4:30 p.m. Sunday. They attempted to revive him, but he “succumbed to an injury consistent with being attacked by a weapon,” authorities said.
The death is being investigated as a homicide. Coderre was serving a life sentence with the possibility of parole for first-degree attempted murder, authorities said.
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Rudiger, of Oakland, was convicted of second-degree murder and assault after attacking four homeless San Francisco residents in 1998 so he could drink their blood, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.
One of Rudiger’s victims died after he slashed her throat, the newspaper reported.
According to the Chronicle, Rudiger has a history of mental illness and told police in a videotaped statement that he was a 2,000-year-old vampire. During the trial, Rudiger’s attorney said his client drank his victims’ blood to obtain “vitality,” the newspaper reported at the time.
Rudiger was sentenced to life with the possibility of parole, according to the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. The facility where he is being held provides mental and medical health care “to inmates who have the most severe and long-term needs,” department officials said.


latimes--2020-06-02--Butte County, among earliest in California to reopen, reports 1st coronavirus-related death

Butte County — one of the first in California that was allowed to more quickly relax coronavirus-related restrictions on businesses — has reported its first death from the disease .
Health officials for the county , home to almost 220,000 people north of Sacramento , said Monday that the person died while hospitalized , was older than 65 and had multiple underlying health conditions .
It appears this was a community-acquired case of COVID-19 , officials added , though no specific event or place has been identified as the source .
“ This news hits us hard , ” Butte @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a statement .
“ This COVID-19 pandemic is a historic public health challenge .
Our top priority continues to be protecting the health of our community.
” As of Monday , the county had reported 51 coronavirus cases — with nearly half of those confirmed in the last 14 days , according to The Times ’ coronavirus tracker .
When adjusted for population , the county continues to have one of the lowest confirmed caseloads in the state .
Counties that meet certain data thresholds can more quickly and fully relax portions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the centerpiece of the state ’ s coronavirus response .
Butte County was one of the first to receive state approval to do so after Gov .
Gavin Newsom announced the guidelines last month .
However , there have been some problems along the way .
Local public health officials issued a strongly worded warning to residents not to speed too quickly through the reopening process in mid-May after someone who attended an in-person religious service , which was not allowed at the time , tested positive for the coronavirus — potentially exposing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the state ’ s stringent criteria for swifter reopening effectively limited the option to less-populated or remote reaches of the state that have largely escaped the kind of devastation the coronavirus has wrought on more-populated areas .
After facing some criticism that the initial hurdles were overly onerous , or impossible , for urban counties to clear , Newsom announced a new set of criteria May 18 that made more extensive reopening a possibility for a wider swath of the state .
As of Tuesday morning , 51 of California ’ s 58 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fully reopen their economies .
Still , state and health officials have emphasized that the coronavirus hasn ’ t gone away and that Californians must take precautions to help stem its spread .
Butte County officials stressed that residents should continue washing their hands regularly , maintain physical distance , avoid touching their faces , wear a face covering when they ’ re outside and come into contact with people they don ’ t live with , limit nonessential travel , avoid gatherings and stay home when they ’ re sick .

This transmission electron microscope image shows SARS-CoV-2, also known as 2019-nCoV, the coronavirus that causes COVID-19.
Butte County — one of the first in California that was allowed to more quickly relax coronavirus-related restrictions on businesses — has reported its first death from the disease.
Health officials for the county, home to almost 220,000 people north of Sacramento, said Monday that the person died while hospitalized, was older than 65 and had multiple underlying health conditions.
It appears this was a community-acquired case of COVID-19, officials added, though no specific event or place has been identified as the source.
“This news hits us hard,” Butte County Public Health Director Danette York said in a statement. “This COVID-19 pandemic is a historic public health challenge. Our top priority continues to be protecting the health of our community.”
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As of Monday, the county had reported 51 coronavirus cases — with nearly half of those confirmed in the last 14 days, according to The Times’ coronavirus tracker.
When adjusted for population, the county continues to have one of the lowest confirmed caseloads in the state.
Counties that meet certain data thresholds can more quickly and fully relax portions of California’s stay-at-home order, the centerpiece of the state’s coronavirus response.
Butte County was one of the first to receive state approval to do so after Gov. Gavin Newsom announced the guidelines last month.
However, there have been some problems along the way. Local public health officials issued a strongly worded warning to residents not to speed too quickly through the reopening process in mid-May after someone who attended an in-person religious service, which was not allowed at the time, tested positive for the coronavirus — potentially exposing more than 180 others.
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Initially, the state’s stringent criteria for swifter reopening effectively limited the option to less-populated or remote reaches of the state that have largely escaped the kind of devastation the coronavirus has wrought on more-populated areas.
After facing some criticism that the initial hurdles were overly onerous, or impossible, for urban counties to clear, Newsom announced a new set of criteria May 18 that made more extensive reopening a possibility for a wider swath of the state. As of Tuesday morning, 51 of California’s 58 counties had received state approval to more fully reopen their economies.
Which California counties are reopening? To contain the spread of COVID-19, parks, restaurants and stores are slowly reopening.
Still, state and health officials have emphasized that the coronavirus hasn’t gone away and that Californians must take precautions to help stem its spread.
Butte County officials stressed that residents should continue washing their hands regularly, maintain physical distance, avoid touching their faces, wear a face covering when they’re outside and come into contact with people they don’t live with, limit nonessential travel, avoid gatherings and stay home when they’re sick.


latimes--2020-06-02--Coronavirus cases spike among Marin County essential workers as more testing is urged

While many counties across California have charged ahead with reopening after months of restrictions aimed at stemming the spread of the coronavirus , Marin County officials have been largely satisfied with staying in the slow lane .
Over the past several weeks , the state has loosened its stay-at-home order , allowing stores to reopen , hair salons and barbershops to resume services and patrons to once again dine inside restaurants across large swaths of California .
Marin County , however , reopened office space , outdoor retail sales and outdoor dining just this week .
Officials say they ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Results of recent testing show a spike in infections among essential workers whose jobs require them to frequently interact with the public , said Dr. Matt Willis , Marin County ’ s public health officer .
Grocery store employees are among those who test positive most frequently .
Those who work in other sectors , however , including food service , construction , gas stations , school services and landscaping , are also testing positive more often .
There also has been a slight uptick in the number of workers who unknowingly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ infect family members , Willis said .
“ This is a major concern for the next phase , ” he said .
“ We need to be careful about how we sequence reopening and take every precaution we can to protect people.
” The troubling trend has also affected other counties in California that have sought to move more quickly to reopen sections of the economy stymied by the pandemic .
Nearby Sonoma County has recently seen an increase in instances of the virus being transmitted between workers .
The rise in infections @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that public health officials last week decided to temporarily slow down reopening after having loosened restrictions on restaurants and other businesses .
In Marin County , health officials said last week that more residents had been diagnosed with COVID-19 during that period of time than in any prior week during the pandemic .
The county , which had seen a total of 501 coronavirus infections and 15 deaths as of Monday , has also nearly tripled its testing capacity in recent weeks .
Although the spike in cases is partly from an increase @ @ @ @ @ @ @ showed that a greater proportion of people being tested were infected with the virus .
The county ’ s percent-positive rate rose from 4.4 % to 5.3 % over the past several days .
“ This suggests we ’ re likely seeing at least a slight rise in actual virus transmission , ” he said .
In response to the increase , public health officials are working with employers to get their workers tested for the virus on a monthly basis .
Free testing is available by appointment at the Civic Center and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ some cases , county health officials are testing people at their jobs .
When officials offered to test United Markets ’ employees at its stores last week , President Kelly Smith jumped at the opportunity .
Since the beginning of the pandemic , she ’ s been well aware that her employees are among the most likely to become infected , even with mandated safety measures such as plastic barriers and face coverings , she said .
Supermarkets have become ground zero in the fight against the coronavirus across the United States .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ panic attacks and frustrated customers while trying to keep depleted shelves stocked amid an altered supply chain .
Some workers have received bonuses or temporary raises dubbed “ hero pay.
” But a growing number of grocery workers across the U.S. have fallen ill from the virus , and dozens have died .
Marin County health officials set up mobile testing sites at both United Markets locations last week to administer tests to most of the grocery stores ’ 145 employees .
“ For the employees — well for anyone , really — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to go get tested at a site somewhere by yourself , ” Smith said .
“ This we were able to do together , and I think that made it a little easier .
My whole philosophy is taking care of my employees .
If they ’ re good , then I ’ m good.
” Smith hasn ’ t received the results of all of the tests , but it appears that one employee may have tested positive , she said .
She immediately told the person to stay home and sanitized @ @ @ @ @ @ @ become typical .
For public health officials , widespread testing of essential workers provides an easy way for them to identify cases and stem an outbreak .
Instances of workers transmitting the virus to people in their households is an “ important driver of the epidemic that we need to get in front of , ” Willis said .
“ We ’ re showing , when we do test frequently , we ’ re seeing cases we otherwise wouldn ’ t have discovered , which allows us to intervene earlier and prevent the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .

A couple sit at a vista point of the San Francisco skyline in Sausalito. Coronavirus cases among essential workers have spiked in Marin County.
While many counties across California have charged ahead with reopening after months of restrictions aimed at stemming the spread of the coronavirus, Marin County officials have been largely satisfied with staying in the slow lane.
Over the past several weeks, the state has loosened its stay-at-home order, allowing stores to reopen, hair salons and barbershops to resume services and patrons to once again dine inside restaurants across large swaths of California. Marin County, however, reopened office space, outdoor retail sales and outdoor dining just this week.
Officials say they’re taking it slow for a reason. Results of recent testing show a spike in infections among essential workers whose jobs require them to frequently interact with the public, said Dr. Matt Willis, Marin County’s public health officer.
Which California counties are reopening? To contain the spread of COVID-19, parks, restaurants and stores are slowly reopening.
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Grocery store employees are among those who test positive most frequently. Those who work in other sectors, however, including food service, construction, gas stations, school services and landscaping, are also testing positive more often.
There also has been a slight uptick in the number of workers who unknowingly bring the virus home with them and infect family members, Willis said.
“This is a major concern for the next phase,” he said. “We need to be careful about how we sequence reopening and take every precaution we can to protect people.”
The troubling trend has also affected other counties in California that have sought to move more quickly to reopen sections of the economy stymied by the pandemic.
Nearby Sonoma County has recently seen an increase in instances of the virus being transmitted between workers. The rise in infections and hospitalizations was enough of a concern that public health officials last week decided to temporarily slow down reopening after having loosened restrictions on restaurants and other businesses.
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In Marin County, health officials said last week that more residents had been diagnosed with COVID-19 during that period of time than in any prior week during the pandemic. The county, which had seen a total of 501 coronavirus infections and 15 deaths as of Monday, has also nearly tripled its testing capacity in recent weeks.
Although the spike in cases is partly from an increase in testing, Willis said the data showed that a greater proportion of people being tested were infected with the virus. The county’s percent-positive rate rose from 4.4% to 5.3% over the past several days.
“This suggests we’re likely seeing at least a slight rise in actual virus transmission,” he said.
Tracking the coronavirus in California The latest maps and charts on the spread of COVID-19 in California.
In response to the increase, public health officials are working with employers to get their workers tested for the virus on a monthly basis. Free testing is available by appointment at the Civic Center and Canal neighborhood in San Rafael. In some cases, county health officials are testing people at their jobs.
When officials offered to test United Markets’ employees at its stores last week, President Kelly Smith jumped at the opportunity. Since the beginning of the pandemic, she’s been well aware that her employees are among the most likely to become infected, even with mandated safety measures such as plastic barriers and face coverings, she said.
Supermarkets have become ground zero in the fight against the coronavirus across the United States. Employees have had to manage fights, panic attacks and frustrated customers while trying to keep depleted shelves stocked amid an altered supply chain.
Some workers have received bonuses or temporary raises dubbed “hero pay.” But a growing number of grocery workers across the U.S. have fallen ill from the virus, and dozens have died.
Marin County health officials set up mobile testing sites at both United Markets locations last week to administer tests to most of the grocery stores’ 145 employees.
“For the employees — well for anyone, really — it’s a little bit intimidating to go get tested at a site somewhere by yourself,” Smith said. “This we were able to do together, and I think that made it a little easier. My whole philosophy is taking care of my employees. If they’re good, then I’m good.”
Smith hasn’t received the results of all of the tests, but it appears that one employee may have tested positive, she said. She immediately told the person to stay home and sanitized the store, a process that has become typical.
For public health officials, widespread testing of essential workers provides an easy way for them to identify cases and stem an outbreak. Instances of workers transmitting the virus to people in their households is an “important driver of the epidemic that we need to get in front of,” Willis said.
“We’re showing, when we do test frequently, we’re seeing cases we otherwise wouldn’t have discovered, which allows us to intervene earlier and prevent the spread to other people,” Willis said.


latimes--2020-06-02--Sonoma County sheriff backtracks, says he will enforce coronavirus orders

Sonoma County Sheriff Mark Essick , days after announcing that his agency would no longer enforce the county ’ s coronavirus public health order , has reversed course and agreed to stand behind local restrictions aimed at stemming the spread of the coronavirus .
After a weekend of discussions with the county Board of Supervisors , Essick said Monday that he and his deputies would enforce the current order until June 8 based on assurances from officials that they would work toward a more balanced approach to reopening the economy .
Deputies will continue to emphasize education over punitive action @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ I am now confident in the process moving forward , that we ’ re going to move from an essential/nonessential stance to a risk-based approach , and that a risk-based approach will better align Sonoma County with the state guidelines , ” he told the Santa Rosa-based Press Democrat this week .
Board of Supervisors Chair Susan Gorin and Essick released a joint statement on Monday pledging a collaborative approach and noting that though the county had been successful in flattening the curve of the virus ’ spread , the risk @ @ @ @ @ @ @ any complex situation , there are additional threats that must be considered — including public safety issues that arise out of a prolonged economic shutdown .
We do not yet know the full impact on mental health , economic distress , extended family support , and child abuse , ” the statement read .
“ Law enforcement has already seen a marked increase in attempted suicides , domestic violence and child endangerment .
These impacts must factor into our decision-making process and policy priorities as well.
” The county also announced the creation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at shifting the region from a stay-at-home model to one that emphasizes a “ risk-based ” approach to reopening .
The sheriff ’ s reversal comes four days after his announcement on Facebook that his department would no longer enforce the county ’ s health order , which he said had “ placed significant restrictions on our freedoms.
” Essick had criticized the county ’ s mandate for being far more restrictive than the state order , despite the county ’ s relatively low infection rate compared with other regions of California .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , now is the time to move to a risk-based system and move beyond blanket orders that are crushing our community , ” he wrote last week .
The sheriff ’ s remarks came after the county ’ s health officer , Dr. Sundari Mase , announced that officials would hold off on allowing the reopening of some businesses following a rise in local coronavirus cases and hospitalizations .
While Sonoma County was given the green light by the state to reopen stores , hair salons and , Mase said it would not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ She noted at the time that Sonoma County had reported 203 new cases of the virus over the most recent 14-day span , doubling its case rate in that time from 20 per 100,000 residents to 41 per 100,000 .
The county had reported 566 coronavirus cases and four deaths as of Monday .
Essick ’ s position quickly prompted public rebukes from county officials and statements from other law enforcement officials reinforcing their dedication to the health order .
“ The Santa Rosa Police Department will continue to support the health officer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , leading a safe , strategic and data driven process for reopening , ” Santa Rosa Police Chief Ray Navarro said in a Facebook post last week .
County Supervisor Shirlee Zane criticized Essick ’ s decision to abruptly halt enforcement without first talking with elected officials or Mase .
“ This is not the time to be breaking rank , so to speak , ” she said Friday .
“ It ’ s a time for all of the elected officials to stand together to get through this .
”

Sonoma County Sheriff Mark Essick, days after announcing that his agency would no longer enforce the county’s coronavirus public health order, has reversed course and agreed to stand behind local restrictions aimed at stemming the spread of the coronavirus.
After a weekend of discussions with the county Board of Supervisors, Essick said Monday that he and his deputies would enforce the current order until June 8 based on assurances from officials that they would work toward a more balanced approach to reopening the economy. Deputies will continue to emphasize education over punitive action in enforcing the order, he said.
“I am now confident in the process moving forward, that we’re going to move from an essential/nonessential stance to a risk-based approach, and that a risk-based approach will better align Sonoma County with the state guidelines,” he told the Santa Rosa-based Press Democrat this week.
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Board of Supervisors Chair Susan Gorin and Essick released a joint statement on Monday pledging a collaborative approach and noting that though the county had been successful in flattening the curve of the virus’ spread, the risk had not diminished.
“As in any complex situation, there are additional threats that must be considered — including public safety issues that arise out of a prolonged economic shutdown. We do not yet know the full impact on mental health, economic distress, extended family support, and child abuse,” the statement read.
“Law enforcement has already seen a marked increase in attempted suicides, domestic violence and child endangerment. These impacts must factor into our decision-making process and policy priorities as well.”
The county also announced the creation of an economic recovery task force aimed at shifting the region from a stay-at-home model to one that emphasizes a “risk-based” approach to reopening.
The sheriff’s reversal comes four days after his announcement on Facebook that his department would no longer enforce the county’s health order, which he said had “placed significant restrictions on our freedoms.”
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Essick had criticized the county’s mandate for being far more restrictive than the state order, despite the county’s relatively low infection rate compared with other regions of California.
“Based on what we have learned, now is the time to move to a risk-based system and move beyond blanket orders that are crushing our community,” he wrote last week.
The sheriff’s remarks came after the county’s health officer, Dr. Sundari Mase, announced that officials would hold off on allowing the reopening of some businesses following a rise in local coronavirus cases and hospitalizations.
While Sonoma County was given the green light by the state to reopen stores, hair salons and places of worship , Mase said it would not do so for a few weeks.
She noted at the time that Sonoma County had reported 203 new cases of the virus over the most recent 14-day span, doubling its case rate in that time from 20 per 100,000 residents to 41 per 100,000. The county had reported 566 coronavirus cases and four deaths as of Monday.
Essick’s position quickly prompted public rebukes from county officials and statements from other law enforcement officials reinforcing their dedication to the health order.
“The Santa Rosa Police Department will continue to support the health officer, who is the subject matter expert, leading a safe, strategic and data driven process for reopening,” Santa Rosa Police Chief Ray Navarro said in a Facebook post last week.
County Supervisor Shirlee Zane criticized Essick’s decision to abruptly halt enforcement without first talking with elected officials or Mase.
“This is not the time to be breaking rank, so to speak,” she said Friday. “It’s a time for all of the elected officials to stand together to get through this.”


latimes--2020-06-02--LAPD, FBI collecting protest, looting footage as evidence for future arrests

Police officers have watched from skirmish lines as protesters and others have stolen from businesses , thrown rocks , ignited fires and bashed in streetlights with skateboards .
More than 1,000 people were arrested in Los Angeles alone over the weekend , but officials say they have not given up on tracking down others .
The Los Angeles Police Department has been collecting evidence throughout the protests sparked by the death of George Floyd .
That evidence is mostly in the form of video footage that could be used to identify individuals and bring charges against them in the future @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a nationwide call for pictures and videos that could help identify people “ actively instigating violence ” at protests across the country decrying Floyd ’ s death at the hands of Minneapolis police .
This strategy has been used in the past , including during melees that followed Lakers victories in downtown Los Angeles , as well as in other cities that have experienced unrest , such as Baltimore .
But it is also generating concern .
Nikhil Ramnaney , head of the union that represents Los Angeles County public defenders , expressed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ enforcement agencies or the FBI in the hope of catching looters could allow law enforcement to use facial recognition technology to identify peaceful protesters in the area .
“ If government agencies are stockpiling large repositories of film , in light of what ’ s going on with widely available facial recognition technology , I wouldn ’ t be surprised if those technologies were used on those crowd-sourced contributions , ” he said .
“ If you ’ re sourcing footage from people , you could pull metadata from that footage that could @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that scene.
” Jay Stanley , a senior policy analyst for the Speech , Privacy and Technology Project at the ACLU , said the FBI “ should also seek video of wrongdoing by police officers ” if it is gathering video from protests .
“ There have been plenty of reports and videos of abusive police and National Guard behavior , ” he said .
“ They shouldn ’ t retain any video of people exercising their 1st Amendment rights who aren ’ t breaking the law.
” Police have acknowledged missteps and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one incident in which onlookers recorded a police vehicle driving into protesters before speeding away .
While not every cop on the street was wearing a body camera in recent days , as specialized units don ’ t have them , thousands of officers in areas with severe looting and vandalism were wearing them and recording hours of footage , said Josh Rubenstein , an LAPD spokesman .
Police also have been provided footage from residents and business owners , not to mention the slew of images they can access on social media @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it ’ s being brought to our attention , or where we are able to capture any evidence of people committing crimes , that is being captured for further investigation , ” Rubenstein said .
Most of the protests over Floyd ’ s death , which occurred after former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin held a knee on Floyd ’ s neck for more than eight minutes , have been peaceful .
But some have taken a darker turn as looters have used the marches as cover to steal from stores .
Arrest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ LAPD booked just 14 people on looting-related offenses on Friday and Saturday , even as dozens of stores downtown and in the Fairfax district were being pillaged both days .
On Sunday , more than 120 people were taken into custody for looting , records show .
Hundreds of people also were arrested for violating nightly curfews put in place by Mayor Eric Garcetti in an effort to quell the unrest .
Officials have said those intent on causing harm or stuffing their pockets and cars with stolen goods took advantage of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The more successful those individuals were in stealing , and the more violent they were in their destruction , the more likely it is they will be pursued in coming investigations .
Law enforcement officials said they are likely to focus on major crimes that caused extensive damage or injuries , and on individuals who committed multiple crimes or were part of a group committing multiple crimes .
But they also could choose to charge and prosecute others whose actions were brazen or cruel .
Many people wore masks , but others @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a mask on in one video may be identifiable in another , in a moment when they let their mask down .
Similar work is likely to be conducted by other agencies beyond Los Angeles .
Officials in Long Beach placed the blame for looting that marred an otherwise peaceful protest Sunday in the city ’ s downtown area on “ organized criminals ” who had been “ hitting other cities ” in the area , according to Mayor Robert Garcia .
Long Beach police arrested 75 people on Sunday , many for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
But both Garcia and city Police Chief Robert Luna promised to work with federal partners to review surveillance footage to track down looting suspects in the future .
“ There were a whole lot of cameras out there , ” Luna said Monday .
“ If you were looting and we have your license-plate number and your face , we ’ re gon na come after you.
” Some residents and business owners said they welcome such work by police , because outsiders who drove into their neighborhoods and destroyed storefronts should @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the weekend .
Some say police stood by and did nothing as looters destroyed businesses already on the brink of closing for good after being shuttered for weeks due to the COVID-19 pandemic .
Steve Soboroff , a member of the civilian Police Commission that oversees the LAPD , said he understands people ’ s frustrations that there was a lack of police presence as some crimes were occurring over the weekend .
But , he said , police were in a difficult position and had to pick their priorities , and LAPD @ @ @ @ @ @ @ keeping people safe over confronting every looter .
“ The job of the department , of the chief , is a high-wire act right now .
There ’ s not a lot of space in there to do it right , ” Soboroff said .
“ What ’ s wrong is over-policing , and what ’ s wrong is under-policing.
” But people in Los Angeles should know that in terms of holding accountable those who abused legitimate protests for their own criminal means , the battle is not over , Soboroff said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ just because a person isn ’ t out there anymore , ” he said .
“ I don ’ t think the department is going to make a decision to say , ‘ OK , let ’ s just forget about all that and start over , ’ because you saw some really dangerous stuff.
” Returning to investigate and prosecute crimes at a later date , when the department isn ’ t stretched thin and officers aren ’ t in dangerous situations , makes sense , Soboroff said .
“ Are we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a shoe store , or are we going to take video and figure all of this out later ?
” he said .
In an era of smartphones and pervasive government and business surveillance systems , using footage to retroactively target criminals who escaped immediate arrest in moments of widespread unrest is not without precedent .
In 2015 , after looting and arson broke out in Baltimore following the death of another black man , Freddie Gray , from injuries suffered in police custody , the Baltimore Police Department formed a task force @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lent a hand , including the FBI , the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Bureau of Alcohol , Tobacco , Firearms and Explosives .
In the following weeks and months , officials brought charges against people for burning down a CVS , burning down a liquor store , slashing a fire hose and looting pharmacies .
Some were sentenced to years in federal prison .
“ When the evidence proves that criminals destroyed property and jeopardized lives , they must be held accountable , ” said Rod Rosenstein , at the time the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ man who burned down a liquor store was sentenced to five years in prison and ordered to pay $ 380,000 in restitution .
Multiple federal agencies said they stand ready to assist local law enforcement in Los Angeles and other localities as well .
U.S. Atty .
Nicola Hanna said federal prosecutors in Los Angeles are “ confronting this outlaw behavior ” by working with the FBI and local police “ to identify cases in which federal charges could be appropriately filed .
”

A man smashes the window of a business in downtown Los Angeles on Friday. (Luis Sinco/Los Angeles Times)
People run from a looted jewelry store as LAPD officers approach in downtown Los Angeles on Friday. (Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times)
People look for jewelry on the floor at a jewelry store in downtown Los Angeles on Friday. (Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times)
People take jewelry from a store in downtown Los Angeles on Friday. (Luis Sinco/Los Angeles Times)
People take liquor and beer from a Rite Aid store in downtown Los Angeles on Friday. (Luis Sinco/Los Angeles Times)
Los Angeles police contain protesters at the Farmers Market as they demonstrate in the Fairfax District of Los Angeles. (Gary Coronado/Los Angeles Times)
A man leaves the broken-into Apple Store with merchandise at the Grove in the Fairfax District in Los Angeles. (Gary Coronado/Los Angeles Times)
Police arrest looters at Whole Foods Market in the Fairfax District on Saturday in Los Angeles. (Kent Nishimura/Los Angeles Times)
A person kicks in the door of a Whole Foods Market in the Fairfax District of Los Angeles on Saturday. (Kent Nishimura/Los Angeles Times)
People carry items taken from stores that were broken into in the Fairfax District on Saturday in Los Angeles. (Kent Nishimura/Los Angeles Times)
People walk away with stolen surfboards in Santa Monica on Sunday. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
People are taken into custody for curfew violations suspects in Santa Monica on Sunday. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
An LAPD officer arrests a looting suspect in an alley behind a Hollywood Boulevard store. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
AJ Lovelace tries to stop people from breaking into a Walgreens store at Santa Monica Boulevard and Highland Avenue. “We need peace, and we need someone to talk to each other,” he said after they fled the scene. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
An LAPD officer arrests a looting suspect in an alley behind a Hollywood Boulevard store. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
Police officers have watched from skirmish lines as protesters and others have stolen from businesses, thrown rocks, ignited fires and bashed in streetlights with skateboards.
More than 1,000 people were arrested in Los Angeles alone over the weekend, but officials say they have not given up on tracking down others.
The Los Angeles Police Department has been collecting evidence throughout the protests sparked by the death of George Floyd. That evidence is mostly in the form of video footage that could be used to identify individuals and bring charges against them in the future.
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The FBI on Monday put out a nationwide call for pictures and videos that could help identify people “actively instigating violence” at protests across the country decrying Floyd’s death at the hands of Minneapolis police.
This strategy has been used in the past, including during melees that followed Lakers victories in downtown Los Angeles, as well as in other cities that have experienced unrest, such as Baltimore.
But it is also generating concern.
1 / 81 Protesters stand on top of a burned LAPD cruiser. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) 2 / 81 Protesters stand on top of a bus stop at the Los Angeles Civic Center to demonstrate for justice Wednesday night. (Luis Sinco/Los Angeles Times) 3 / 81 Protestors turn on their cell phone flashlights at Los Angeles City Hall at 9 pm on Wednesday as part of a silent protest against the death of George Floyd. (Gary Coronado/Los Angeles Times) 4 / 81 A protester confronts National Guardsmen as thousands of protesters march down Spring Street in Los Angeles to demonstrate for justice in the George Floyd murder by cop case Wednesday. (Luis Sinco/Los Angeles Times) 5 / 81 Protesters dance on Spring Street in downtown Los Angeles Wednesday night. (Luis Sinco/Los Angeles Times) 6 / 81 Thousands of protesters march down Spring Street in Los Angeles Wednesday night to demonstrate for justice in the killing of George Floyd. (Luis Sinco/Los Angeles Times) 7 / 81 LAPD Cmdr. Gerald Woodyard takes a knee with protesters and L.A. clergy during a march in downtown Los Angeles on Tuesday. (Kent Nishimura/Los Angeles Times) 8 / 81 Khalil Mitchell speaks to protesters kneeling near a police line, preaching calm and working to preserve a peaceful protest on Monday. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times) 9 / 81 In Hollywood, hundreds of protesters march Monday against police brutality. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) 10 / 81 AJ Lovelace, a director and writer, and others keep potential looters from entering a dry cleaning store as they attempt to march peacefully. “We need peace and we need someone to talk to each other,” he said after the looters fled the scene. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times) 11 / 81 Demonstrators in Riverside retreat as county sheriff’s deputies fire nonlethal rounds on Monday after law enforcement announced an unlawful assembly. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times) 12 / 81 Protesters in Riverside. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times) 13 / 81 An arrest in Hollywood during a protest Monday. (Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times) 14 / 81 A demonstrator, injured while trying to flee the firing of nonlethal rounds, lies on the ground in Riverside. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times) 15 / 81 An LAPD officer arrests a looting suspect in an alley behind a Hollywood Boulevard store. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) 16 / 81 Riverside County deputies advance on demonstrators on Monday. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times) 17 / 81 Fireworks thrown by a protester explode at the feet of Riverside police. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times) 18 / 81 Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco takes a knee with demonstrators. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times) 19 / 81 A watch and jewelry store is looted in Van Nuys on Monday. (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times) 20 / 81 A looting arrest in Van Nuys. (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times) 21 / 81 AJ Lovelace, director and writer, tries to stop looters from breaking into a Walgreens in Hollywood. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) 22 / 81 An LAPD officer arrests a suspected looter in an alley behind a Hollywood Boulevard store. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) 23 / 81 Police advance on a line of protesters in Hollywood, firing rubber bullets. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) 24 / 81 Arrests are made of those out after curfew in Hollywood. (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times) 25 / 81 Protesters in Hollywood. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) 26 / 81 A store is looted in Hollywood. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) 27 / 81 Protesters in Hollywood. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) 28 / 81 People out after curfew are arrested Monday at Sunset Boulevard and Gower Street. (Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times) 29 / 81 Arrests in Hollywood. (Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times) 30 / 81 Protests in Westwood. (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times) 31 / 81 Volunteers help clean up the mess left by looters in Long Beach. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times) 32 / 81 Protest in Hollywood. (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times) 33 / 81 National Guardsmen outside Santa Monica Place. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times) 34 / 81 Gilbert Haro and sons Richard, 8, and James, 6, help clean up in Santa Monica. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times) 35 / 81 Protesters face off with police in Santa Monica on Sunday. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) 36 / 81 Santa Monica stores were the target of looting on Sunday. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) 37 / 81 Suspected looters in custody in Santa Monica on Sunday. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) 38 / 81 L.A. County sheriff’s deputies in Santa Monica on Sunday. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) 39 / 81 Sake House employee Jared Settles can’t bear to watch as the restaurant burns in Santa Monica on Sunday. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) 40 / 81 An arrest in Santa Monica on Sunday. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) 41 / 81 Broken glass from a looted store covers the sidewalk in Santa Monica. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) 42 / 81 Cecelia Rosales, who said she was homeless, walks past a line of police officers in Santa Monica on Sunday. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) 43 / 81 A man guards a convenience store in Santa Monica. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) 44 / 81 Looting erupted Sunday in Long Beach. (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times) 45 / 81 Police and protesters face off in Santa Monica on Sunday. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) 46 / 81 A police officer inspects the damage to a Santa Monica supermarket. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) 47 / 81 A protester is treated after being struck by a rubber bullet. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) 48 / 81 Looting in Long Beach on Sunday. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) 49 / 81 Looting in Long Beach. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) 50 / 81 A suspected looter in Long Beach. (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times) 51 / 81 Smashing windows in Santa Monica. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) 52 / 81 An arrest in Santa Monica on Sunday. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) 53 / 81 People walk away with surfboards in Santa Monica on Sunday. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) 54 / 81 People rush out of a looted store in Santa Monica. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) 55 / 81 Protesters in downtown Los Angeles on Sunday. (Myung J. Chun / Los Angeles Times) 56 / 81 Cheers for protesters in downtown Los Angeles. (Myung J. Chun / Los Angeles Times) 57 / 81 City Hall on Sunday. (Myung J. Chun / Los Angeles Times) 58 / 81 A shattered storefront on Melrose Avenue on Sunday. (Christina House / Los Angeles Times) 59 / 81 Smashed windows on La Cienega Boulevard. (Christina House / Los Angeles Times) 60 / 81 Downtown L.A. on Sunday. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) 61 / 81 People carry merchandise from a looted store. (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times) 62 / 81 A person carries items from a looted store in the Fairfax District on Saturday. (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times) 63 / 81 A couple of protesters embrace on Fairfax Avenue in Los Angeles Saturday. (Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times) 64 / 81 People protest Saturday at Pan Pacific Park. (Kent Nishimura/Los Angeles Times) 65 / 81 Protesters gather around a fire in the middle of a downtown L.A. street on Friday. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) 66 / 81 Police fire percussion rounds to clear protesters from Grand Avenue in in downtown Los Angeles on Friday. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) 67 / 81 A protester remains defiant after being pushed to the ground by police on Grand Avenue in downtown Los Angeles on Friday. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) 68 / 81 Protesters are arrested by Los Angeles police in front of City Hall on Saturday. (Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times) 69 / 81 Protesters block the 110 Freeway. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) 70 / 81 Protesters take to the streets Friday in downtown L.A. (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times) 71 / 81 Protesters are escorted off the northbound 110 Freeway in downtown Los Angeles. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) 72 / 81 A protester is escorted off the northbound 110 Freeway in downtown Los Angeles. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) 73 / 81 Protesters climb over a barrier during the May 29 protest in downtown L.A. (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times) 74 / 81 Protesters block the 110 Freeway northbound and southbound in downtown Los Angeles. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) 75 / 81 Police officers assume a defensive stance as a protester approaches them on the 110 Freeway on May 29. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) 76 / 81 During a May 29 protest, Los Angeles police patrol the 110 after having moved protesters off the freeway. (Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times) 77 / 81 A protester rides a skateboard on the 110 Freeway. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) 78 / 81 Protesters block the 110 Freeway northbound and southbound in downtown Los Angeles. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) 79 / 81 A protester confronts LAPD officers on Friday in downtown L.A. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) 80 / 81 A protester lies hurt on the 101 Freeway near downtown Los Angeles on May 27. (Gabriella Angotti-Jones / Los Angeles Times) 81 / 81 An injured man gets up with the help of emergency workers during a protest May 27 in downtown L.A. (Dania Maxwell / Los Angeles Times)
Nikhil Ramnaney, head of the union that represents Los Angeles County public defenders, expressed concern that funneling footage to local law enforcement agencies or the FBI in the hope of catching looters could allow law enforcement to use facial recognition technology to identify peaceful protesters in the area.
“If government agencies are stockpiling large repositories of film, in light of what’s going on with widely available facial recognition technology, I wouldn’t be surprised if those technologies were used on those crowd-sourced contributions,” he said. “If you’re sourcing footage from people, you could pull metadata from that footage that could also tell you who was present at that scene.”
Jay Stanley, a senior policy analyst for the Speech, Privacy and Technology Project at the ACLU, said the FBI “should also seek video of wrongdoing by police officers” if it is gathering video from protests.
“There have been plenty of reports and videos of abusive police and National Guard behavior,” he said. “They shouldn’t retain any video of people exercising their 1st Amendment rights who aren’t breaking the law.”
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Police have acknowledged missteps and said they are already investigating at least one incident in which onlookers recorded a police vehicle driving into protesters before speeding away.
While not every cop on the street was wearing a body camera in recent days, as specialized units don’t have them, thousands of officers in areas with severe looting and vandalism were wearing them and recording hours of footage, said Josh Rubenstein, an LAPD spokesman.
Police also have been provided footage from residents and business owners, not to mention the slew of images they can access on social media and in other media.
“Where it’s being brought to our attention, or where we are able to capture any evidence of people committing crimes, that is being captured for further investigation,” Rubenstein said.
Most of the protests over Floyd’s death, which occurred after former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin held a knee on Floyd’s neck for more than eight minutes, have been peaceful. But some have taken a darker turn as looters have used the marches as cover to steal from stores.
Arrest records reviewed by The Times show the LAPD booked just 14 people on looting-related offenses on Friday and Saturday, even as dozens of stores downtown and in the Fairfax district were being pillaged both days. On Sunday, more than 120 people were taken into custody for looting, records show. Hundreds of people also were arrested for violating nightly curfews put in place by Mayor Eric Garcetti in an effort to quell the unrest.
Officials have said those intent on causing harm or stuffing their pockets and cars with stolen goods took advantage of the legitimate protesters, using them as cover. The more successful those individuals were in stealing, and the more violent they were in their destruction, the more likely it is they will be pursued in coming investigations.
Law enforcement officials said they are likely to focus on major crimes that caused extensive damage or injuries, and on individuals who committed multiple crimes or were part of a group committing multiple crimes. But they also could choose to charge and prosecute others whose actions were brazen or cruel.
Many people wore masks, but others did not. And even those with a mask on in one video may be identifiable in another, in a moment when they let their mask down.
Similar work is likely to be conducted by other agencies beyond Los Angeles.
Officials in Long Beach placed the blame for looting that marred an otherwise peaceful protest Sunday in the city’s downtown area on “organized criminals” who had been “hitting other cities” in the area, according to Mayor Robert Garcia.
Long Beach police arrested 75 people on Sunday, many for violations of a citywide 8 p.m. curfew. But both Garcia and city Police Chief Robert Luna promised to work with federal partners to review surveillance footage to track down looting suspects in the future.
“There were a whole lot of cameras out there,” Luna said Monday. “If you were looting and we have your license-plate number and your face, we’re gonna come after you.”
Some residents and business owners said they welcome such work by police, because outsiders who drove into their neighborhoods and destroyed storefronts should be held accountable and were not over the weekend. Some say police stood by and did nothing as looters destroyed businesses already on the brink of closing for good after being shuttered for weeks due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Steve Soboroff, a member of the civilian Police Commission that oversees the LAPD, said he understands people’s frustrations that there was a lack of police presence as some crimes were occurring over the weekend. But, he said, police were in a difficult position and had to pick their priorities, and LAPD Chief Michel Moore rightly prioritized lives and keeping people safe over confronting every looter.
“The job of the department, of the chief, is a high-wire act right now. There’s not a lot of space in there to do it right,” Soboroff said. “What’s wrong is over-policing, and what’s wrong is under-policing.”
But people in Los Angeles should know that in terms of holding accountable those who abused legitimate protests for their own criminal means, the battle is not over, Soboroff said.
“Arrests aren’t over just because a person isn’t out there anymore,” he said. “I don’t think the department is going to make a decision to say, ‘OK, let’s just forget about all that and start over,’ because you saw some really dangerous stuff.”
Returning to investigate and prosecute crimes at a later date, when the department isn’t stretched thin and officers aren’t in dangerous situations, makes sense, Soboroff said.
“Are we going to get into a shootout in a shoe store, or are we going to take video and figure all of this out later?” he said.
In an era of smartphones and pervasive government and business surveillance systems, using footage to retroactively target criminals who escaped immediate arrest in moments of widespread unrest is not without precedent.
In 2015, after looting and arson broke out in Baltimore following the death of another black man, Freddie Gray, from injuries suffered in police custody, the Baltimore Police Department formed a task force to identify suspects. Multiple federal agencies lent a hand, including the FBI, the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
In the following weeks and months, officials brought charges against people for burning down a CVS, burning down a liquor store, slashing a fire hose and looting pharmacies. Some were sentenced to years in federal prison.
“When the evidence proves that criminals destroyed property and jeopardized lives, they must be held accountable,” said Rod Rosenstein, at the time the Maryland U.S. Atty., after the man who burned down a liquor store was sentenced to five years in prison and ordered to pay $380,000 in restitution.
Multiple federal agencies said they stand ready to assist local law enforcement in Los Angeles and other localities as well.
U.S. Atty. Nicola Hanna said federal prosecutors in Los Angeles are “confronting this outlaw behavior” by working with the FBI and local police “to identify cases in which federal charges could be appropriately filed.”
Times staff writer Richard Winton contributed to this report.


latimes--2020-06-02--Banks: As protests roll on, demanding the justice that leads to peace

I ’ ve been searching for something hopeful to latch on to in the week since we watched George Floyd dying on a Minneapolis street , handcuffed and pinned to the ground by a policeman ’ s knee .
But each ray of light I could find wound up with a troubling dark side .
I was encouraged when all four officers involved in Floyd ’ s death were immediately fired .
That was a bold move by the city ’ s mayor ; a response we haven ’ t seen before .
But four days passed before the perpetrating @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — enough time for cynicism and grief to send angry residents to the streets .
I was optimistic enough to believe that the spread of protests across the country signified a long-overdue national reckoning with the plague of police brutality .
But looters and troublemakers hijacked that — and property losses vied for attention with the injustice of Floyd ’ s death .
I was heartened by the multiracial coalitions of young people in California , many wearing masks and trying to socially distance , as they marched with their “ Black Lives @ @ @ @ @ @ @ videos and eyewitness accounts of provocateurs methodically breaking windows and setting fires .
The speed and scale of the public outbursts have offered a dizzying kaleidoscope of images of a nation at war with itself .
What you believe may dictate what you see .
I mostly see crowds of peaceful protesters being determinedly undermined , where others see only hordes of looters stealing things .
We may each parse the protests differently , but we can ’ t say we weren ’ t warned 28 years ago , when the cops got @ @ @ @ @ @ @ swaths of Los Angeles burned .
And of all the lessons we might take from the carnage this time , the most important may still be the enduring “ No Justice , No Peace.
” My Nextdoor feed was buzzing for days with rumors of riots and gang members running amok in our suburban enclave .
“ I heard there is a plan for a Riot this afternoon !
!
Is this true ?
?
?
” one worried woman posted Monday morning .
That led to lots of back and forth about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ thugs ” wander into the cul-de-sac .
The vitriol was so intense the chastened organizer canceled the protest she ’ d planned .
I drove by the site not expecting much .
My neighborhood is as close to Trump Country as any place in Los Angeles could be .
I imagined a few old hippies and bunch of college kids .
Instead I found a gloriously diverse display of L.A. humanity .
They were white and brown and Asian and black ; more than 350 people crammed onto the small traffic island @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Most were young , enthusiastic and loud , but there were elderly folks who struggled with the request to kneel and young couples with little kids in tow .
The park ’ s landmark is a bronze statue of a small somber boy holding a folded American flag .
There was something powerful about seeing him surrounded by folks of every color demanding that black people be able to enjoy the freedoms that America promises .
And it wasn ’ t just the size and the spirit of the protesters that uplifted me @ @ @ @ @ @ @ honks and thumbs up from cars that streamed through the busy intersection .
And the signs that waved : “ Black Lives Matter.
” “ I can ’ t breathe ” “ We will not change the world by asking nicely.
” Officials had prepared for the worst ; there were police cars parked along the curb and the shopping center across the street had been shut down , its store windows boarded up .
The officers on duty said folks had been gathering for hours by the time I got there at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the most substantial order they ’ d issued was “ please stay on the sidewalks , not on the street.
” I ’ ve lived in this neighborhood for almost 35 years , and what I saw and felt as I surveyed the crowd moved me to tears .
I spotted the Girl Scout cookies leader from our local school , a couple of my daughter ’ s college friends , the old couple who used to usher at my church .
I don ’ t think I have ever felt such a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — in my Northridge community before .
I imagine gatherings like this are going on all across our city .
But we only get wind of them when order breaks down .
It ’ s so easy to expect the worst of people we imagine are nothing like us .
But I realize now that I live in a neighborhood I only thought I knew .
And if these young people can carry forth this new spirit of equality , maybe they can help renew our faith in our stumbling country and communities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that leads to peace .

I’ve been searching for something hopeful to latch on to in the week since we watched George Floyd dying on a Minneapolis street, handcuffed and pinned to the ground by a policeman’s knee.
But each ray of light I could find wound up with a troubling dark side.
I was encouraged when all four officers involved in Floyd’s death were immediately fired. That was a bold move by the city’s mayor; a response we haven’t seen before. But four days passed before the perpetrating officer was arrested and charged with murder — enough time for cynicism and grief to send angry residents to the streets.
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I was optimistic enough to believe that the spread of protests across the country signified a long-overdue national reckoning with the plague of police brutality. But looters and troublemakers hijacked that — and property losses vied for attention with the injustice of Floyd’s death.
I was heartened by the multiracial coalitions of young people in California, many wearing masks and trying to socially distance, as they marched with their “Black Lives Matter” signs — and horrified by videos and eyewitness accounts of provocateurs methodically breaking windows and setting fires.
The speed and scale of the public outbursts have offered a dizzying kaleidoscope of images of a nation at war with itself. What you believe may dictate what you see. I mostly see crowds of peaceful protesters being determinedly undermined, where others see only hordes of looters stealing things.
We may each parse the protests differently, but we can’t say we weren’t warned 28 years ago, when the cops got off for beating Rodney King and giant swaths of Los Angeles burned.
And of all the lessons we might take from the carnage this time, the most important may still be the enduring “No Justice, No Peace.”
::
My Nextdoor feed was buzzing for days with rumors of riots and gang members running amok in our suburban enclave. “I heard there is a plan for a Riot this afternoon!! Is this true???” one worried woman posted Monday morning.
That led to lots of back and forth about having guns at the ready in case “thugs” wander into the cul-de-sac. The vitriol was so intense the chastened organizer canceled the protest she’d planned.
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I drove by the site not expecting much. My neighborhood is as close to Trump Country as any place in Los Angeles could be. I imagined a few old hippies and bunch of college kids. Instead I found a gloriously diverse display of L.A. humanity.
They were white and brown and Asian and black; more than 350 people crammed onto the small traffic island we call Granada Hills Veterans Park. Most were young, enthusiastic and loud, but there were elderly folks who struggled with the request to kneel and young couples with little kids in tow.
The park’s landmark is a bronze statue of a small somber boy holding a folded American flag. There was something powerful about seeing him surrounded by folks of every color demanding that black people be able to enjoy the freedoms that America promises.
And it wasn’t just the size and the spirit of the protesters that uplifted me, it was the endless stream of honks and thumbs up from cars that streamed through the busy intersection. And the signs that waved: “Black Lives Matter.” “I can’t breathe” “We will not change the world by asking nicely.”
Officials had prepared for the worst; there were police cars parked along the curb and the shopping center across the street had been shut down, its store windows boarded up.
The officers on duty said folks had been gathering for hours by the time I got there at 3. While I was there, the most substantial order they’d issued was “please stay on the sidewalks, not on the street.”
I’ve lived in this neighborhood for almost 35 years, and what I saw and felt as I surveyed the crowd moved me to tears. I spotted the Girl Scout cookies leader from our local school, a couple of my daughter’s college friends, the old couple who used to usher at my church. I don’t think I have ever felt such a sense of belonging — of being valuable — in my Northridge community before.
I imagine gatherings like this are going on all across our city. But we only get wind of them when order breaks down. It’s so easy to expect the worst of people we imagine are nothing like us.
But I realize now that I live in a neighborhood I only thought I knew. And if these young people can carry forth this new spirit of equality, maybe they can help renew our faith in our stumbling country and communities.
They’re demanding the justice that leads to peace.


latimes--2020-06-02--Santa Cruz police chief took a knee during a George Floyd protest. Other police soon followed

Santa Cruz Police Chief Andrew Mills knew he wanted to stand alongside his community on Saturday .
So when the moment came to recognize the death of George Floyd at the hands of a white Minneapolis police officer , Mills , who has served as chief for three years , had every intention of joining the protesters on Pacific Avenue .
“ I had already determined in my mind that it was the right thing to do , ” Mills said in an interview Monday .
He wanted to send a message not only to the community but to his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a very visual way , that we are with the community and part of the community.
” In a photo captured by a local photojournalist , Mayor Justin Cummings , the first black man to serve in the position , and Mills are side by side , down on their right knees , surrounded by protesters carrying signs and nearly all wearing face coverings or masks .
Mills wears his police uniform , no riot gear in sight .
Floyd died in Minneapolis police custody last week , triggering protests in cities nationwide @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up efforts to control those protests , some police chiefs and leaders condemned the action of the Minneapolis officers and offered gestures of peace with their communities .
In New Jersey , in a march and held part of a sign that read , “ Standing in solidarity.
” A county sheriff in Michigan made it a point to take off his riot gear and walk with protesters .
Houston ’ s police chief was pictured embracing a protester during a march .
In Oakland on Sunday , a video captured a group @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mills did a day earlier .
On Friday , Mills penned a message about the killing , calling the actions of the Minneapolis officers involved “ the antithesis of what we view as good policing.
” “ The other officers had a duty to step in and stop this violent assault , ” he wrote , “ and they failed.
” The next day , he took a knee during a protest organized by community members that recognized Floyd ’ s death .
This has become a symbolic gesture ever since NFL quarterback @ @ @ @ @ @ @ anthem to honor black people killed by police brutality .
“ I know that Colin ’ s decision to take a knee , and many others who knelt with him , was controversial , ” Mills said .
“ As a police chief and a police officer for over 40 years … it did cause me to pause and stop and think about the communities of colors that we police with and try to understand .
Which I can not completely understand as a privileged 63-year-old white guy.
” “ Taking a knee @ @ @ @ @ @ @ continued , “ I certainly understand the symbolism.
” Santa Cruz Sentinel photojournalist Shmuel Thaler was covering the protest Saturday morning , despite it being his day off .
A staff photographer since 1987 , Thaler said he kept an eye on the chief and looked for an opportunity to capture him near protesters .
The day passed peacefully , Thaler said , and on Saturday night , his photo started making the rounds online , joining the images and videos that showed moments of unity between protesters and law enforcement .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is just PR , that it doesn ’ t mean anything , and I think it does mean something , ” Thaler said .
“ It ’ s not solving the world ’ s problems , but we need to start somewhere , and we need to have people of courage do what ’ s not expected or normal , and I think this [ photo ] fits right into that.
” Cummings , who took office last year , said he has worked with Mills to improve policing , including regulating or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ biased against people of color .
On the morning of Saturday ’ s protest , Cummings rode his bike to Pacific Avenue , where he spotted the chief and stopped to talk to him .
When the time came to take a knee , Cummings found the chief beside him .
“ For officers to acknowledge what happened and that being wrong , I think that is a really good first step , ” Cummings said .
“ There ’ s obviously much more work to do , but it ’ s a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Santa Cruz , we ’ re continually trying to do better.
” Mills said he knew not all police officers would agree with his decision to kneel .
“ I don ’ t care , ” he noted .
He said he will do whatever he can to press for change , not just in policing but in reducing incarceration and addressing bias in the court system for “ systemic change ” at the local , state and federal level .
“ It ’ s shallow symbolism , ” he said of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ put the structure , the policy , the change of heart , behind it .
”

Santa Cruz Mayor Justin Cummings and Police Chief Andrew Mills take a knee along with hundreds gathered Saturday on Pacific Avenue in downtown Santa Cruz to honor the memory of George Floyd and bring attention to institutionalized police violence against black people.
Santa Cruz Police Chief Andrew Mills knew he wanted to stand alongside his community on Saturday.
So when the moment came to recognize the death of George Floyd at the hands of a white Minneapolis police officer, Mills, who has served as chief for three years, had every intention of joining the protesters on Pacific Avenue.
“I had already determined in my mind that it was the right thing to do,” Mills said in an interview Monday. He wanted to send a message not only to the community but to his department “that people understand, in a very visual way, that we are with the community and part of the community.”
In a photo captured by a local photojournalist, Mayor Justin Cummings, the first black man to serve in the position, and Mills are side by side, down on their right knees, surrounded by protesters carrying signs and nearly all wearing face coverings or masks. Mills wears his police uniform, no riot gear in sight.
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Floyd died in Minneapolis police custody last week, triggering protests in cities nationwide. While law enforcement officers have ramped up efforts to control those protests, some police chiefs and leaders condemned the action of the Minneapolis officers and offered gestures of peace with their communities.
In New Jersey, a police chief joined protesters in a march and held part of a sign that read, “Standing in solidarity.” A county sheriff in Michigan made it a point to take off his riot gear and walk with protesters. Houston’s police chief was pictured embracing a protester during a march.
In Oakland on Sunday, a video captured a group of local police officers who knelt as Mills did a day earlier.
On Friday, Mills penned a message about the killing, calling the actions of the Minneapolis officers involved “the antithesis of what we view as good policing.”
“The other officers had a duty to step in and stop this violent assault,” he wrote, “and they failed.”
The next day, he took a knee during a protest organized by community members that recognized Floyd’s death. This has become a symbolic gesture ever since NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick started kneeling during the national anthem to honor black people killed by police brutality.
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“I know that Colin’s decision to take a knee, and many others who knelt with him, was controversial,” Mills said. “As a police chief and a police officer for over 40 years … it did cause me to pause and stop and think about the communities of colors that we police with and try to understand. Which I cannot completely understand as a privileged 63-year-old white guy.”
“Taking a knee in this particular circumstance,” he continued, “I certainly understand the symbolism.”
Santa Cruz Sentinel photojournalist Shmuel Thaler was covering the protest Saturday morning, despite it being his day off. A staff photographer since 1987, Thaler said he kept an eye on the chief and looked for an opportunity to capture him near protesters.
The day passed peacefully, Thaler said, and on Saturday night, his photo started making the rounds online, joining the images and videos that showed moments of unity between protesters and law enforcement.
“I’ve seen comments that this is just PR, that it doesn’t mean anything, and I think it does mean something,” Thaler said. “It’s not solving the world’s problems, but we need to start somewhere, and we need to have people of courage do what’s not expected or normal, and I think this [photo] fits right into that.”
Cummings, who took office last year, said he has worked with Mills to improve policing, including regulating or prohibiting technology that has shown to be biased against people of color.
On the morning of Saturday’s protest, Cummings rode his bike to Pacific Avenue, where he spotted the chief and stopped to talk to him. When the time came to take a knee, Cummings found the chief beside him.
“For officers to acknowledge what happened and that being wrong, I think that is a really good first step,” Cummings said. “There’s obviously much more work to do, but it’s a good first step. And here in Santa Cruz, we’re continually trying to do better.”
Mills said he knew not all police officers would agree with his decision to kneel. “I don’t care,” he noted.
He said he will do whatever he can to press for change, not just in policing but in reducing incarceration and addressing bias in the court system for “systemic change” at the local, state and federal level.
“It’s shallow symbolism,” he said of the kneeling. “Now we have to put the structure, the policy, the change of heart, behind it.”