Mayor 'deeply disturbed' over incident between cop and teen
By AMY TAXIN and BRIAN MELLEY, Associated Press
Feb 23, 2017 6:48 PM CST
A vandalized truck and broken windows are seen in a home in Anaheim, Calif., Thursday, Feb. 23, 2017. An off-duty California officer who didn't want teens walking across his lawn fired his gun during a struggle with a 13-year-old boy and other youths, igniting unruly protests after video of the fight...   (Associated Press)

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Anaheim officials pressed for calm Thursday after a night of raucous protests that followed an incident in which an off-duty policeman scuffled in his front yard with a boy, drew a weapon and fired a shot into the ground after another teen pushed him over a hedge and others surrounded him.

Mayor Tom Tait said he was "deeply disturbed" and angered by what he saw on video of the incident, but he also denounced violence and damage caused by demonstrators.

"The video shows an adult wrestling with a 13-year-old kid, and ultimately firing a gun," Tait said. "This has been a blow to our community."

The street demonstrations five years after unruly protests over two fatal police shootings served as a reminder that the home of Disneyland, dubbed "The Happiest Place on Earth," has the problems of any city with 350,000 residents.

No one was hurt in the scuffle on a residential street that started Tuesday after the Los Angeles officer took action in an ongoing dispute with students walking after school. The officer had reported the problem in the past to local police, said Anaheim Sgt. Daron Wyatt.

Police Chief Raul Quezada defended his department's decision to arrest two teens, but not the officer, who detained the 13-year-old boy after believing the boy threatened him. The investigation continues and the chief wouldn't rule out charges against anyone involved.

Videos shot from different angles and posted on YouTube show the officer clenching the boy's sweatshirt and pulling him across the lawn as they argued about what precipitated the incident.

The 13-year-old believed the officer, who was not named, had cursed at a teenage girl who had walked across his lawn in the area of single-family homes, many with tidy flower beds and well-pruned trees, about 2 miles west of Disneyland.

Michael Carrillo, an attorney representing the teenage girl, said she had "grazed" the officer's lawn when he began shouting expletives at her. Carrillo said the altercation turned physical after the boy stepped in and told the officer he shouldn't curse at a child.

In the video, the officer said he had heard the boy say he was going to "shoot" him, but the teen insists he said he was going to "sue" him.

At one point, the teen said, "Let me go. ... I'm only 13."

Another youth rushed the officer, who stumbled back through a low hedge, still holding the 13-year-old.

A teen then took a swing at the officer. Other kids approached, and the man — still gripping the 13-year-old with one hand — pulled a gun from his waistband, crouched and fired a shot.

Teens shooting video began running down the street and cursing.

The 13-year-old was booked on suspicion of making a criminal threat and battery. A 15-year-old boy was arrested on suspicion of assault and battery.

Both were later released, Quezada said.

Carillo has filed a claim against the cities of Anaheim and Los Angeles, the precursor to a civil lawsuit, alleging the incident shows the Los Angeles Police Department was deficient in training officers.

Hundreds of people marched through suburban Anaheim streets late Wednesday, some blocking traffic and carrying signs that said "no shooting zone." Police arrested two dozen people, including children, after the crowd ignored orders to disperse.

The city 24 miles southeast of Los Angeles was roiled in 2012 by demonstrations following the fatal police shootings of two unarmed Latino men. The deaths sparked four days of violent protests resulting in smashed shop windows and dozens of arrests.

Neighbor Joe Gulrich, 76, said his house was spray-painted during the protest on Wednesday and police told him he should leave for his own safety. When he returned late at night, he found a rock had been thrown through his front window.

Gulrich said he's friendly with the officer and wouldn't blame him if he did fire the shot intentionally.

"He did the right thing," Gulrich said. "If he hadn't done that they would have ganged up on him."

Gulrich blamed a recently built skate park for some of the trouble involving teens but said the problems date back further in the neighborhood between a junior high and high school.

Mike Gutierrez, 35, said he was concerned by the officer's handling of the incident.

"What kind of officer goes against a child?" asked Gutierrez, who lives a few blocks away.

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AP writers Christopher Weber, Michael Balsamo and Andrew Dalton contributed from Los Angeles. Melley reported from Los Angeles.

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