LOS ANGELES, CA — Authorities are asking for the public’s help identifying three people wanted for throwing rocks at police officers on the 101 Freeway during anti-immigration enforcement protests in June.
The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department this week circulated photos of the three suspects, who are described as being part of a larger group of young males riding pocket bikes.
The group arrived in the area of the 101 Freeway in downtown Los Angeles during the June 8 protests “and began committing assaults and vandalisms,” deputies wrote.
The three suspects are accused of throwing “large rocks from an elevated position” at California Highway Patrol officers, who were “attempting to defend themselves” on the 101 Freeway, according to deputies.
Authorities did not specify exactly where or at what time the incident is said to have occurred. But on that day, protestors spilled out onto the 101 Freeway, prompting authorities to close it completely through downtown. In that area, the freeway runs lower than surface streets.
That day marked an escalation in protest activity and violence: It was the day the federalized National Guard arrived in the city.
Deputies offered a description of one of the suspects, described as appearing “older and much heavier than the others, was wearing a ‘Small Engine Cams’ company hooded sweatshirt and was riding a pocket bike with a noticeable extended rear exhaust pipe.”
The other two suspects wore “unique helmets,” deputies wrote.
Anyone with information about the suspects or the incident is asked to contact the LASD Major Crimes Bureau – Metro Detail at 562-946-7893.