Several people are facing charges of attacking police and attacking police animals during the recent (June 2025) Los Angeles area immigration protests and riots.
Suspects were charged with assaulting an officer with a flagpole, obstructing officers, and resisting arrest. Two other suspects have been charged with assaulting Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department horses in separate incidents, the District Attorney’s Office said in a press release.
“The large-scale protests may have ended for now, but our work has not,” Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan J. Hochman said. “We are continuing to review evidence, identify suspects and file charges where the law has been broken. I want to thank the team of investigators and prosecutors for their tireless efforts to ensure that those who committed criminal acts under the guise of protest are held accountable.”
In the press release, the DA’s Office said:
A 17-year-old Juvenile is charged with one felony count each of attempted murder, assault upon a peace officer, and vandalism and two misdemeanor counts of rioting.
A 37-year-old man is charged with one felony count each of assault upon a peace officer and resisting arrest, and one misdemeanor count of rioting. On June 11, at about 10:45 p.m., police officers responded to a hotel in Whittier. Protesters had gathered outside the hotel because they believed that federal immigration agents were staying there. As officers attempted to get the crowd to disperse, the suspect allegedly jabbed a flagpole at one of the officers, causing injury. If convicted as charged, he faces up to nine years and two months in prison.
A 29-year-old woman is charged with two felony counts of assault upon a peace officer, two felony counts of animal cruelty and one felony count of resisting arrest. The complaint also alleges that she had been released on her own recognizance on another felony case at the time she committed the alleged offense. On June 14, at about 4:45 p.m., a dispersal order was given where protesters were gathered in downtown Los Angeles. As sheriff’s mounted deputies moved toward the crowd, the suspect allegedly began pulling on the bridle of one of the horses and then grabbed the reins of another horse. If convicted as charged, she faces up to 10 years and four months in prison.
A 66-year-old man is charged with one felony count each of assault upon a peace officer, resisting arrest and animal cruelty. On June 13, at about 4 p.m., the suspect allegedly pushed one of the LASD horses several times, then hit the animal’s muzzle and pulled on its rein. If convicted as charged, he faces up to six years and four months in prison.
Two suspects are each charged with one felony count of using force or violence to deter or prevent an officer from performing a duty imposed by law and one misdemeanor count of rioting. On June 8, at about 3 p.m., both defendants were downtown when officers told a group of protesters to leave the area. One suspect is accused of throwing a plastic water bottle at an officer, and as she was being arrested, the other suspect allegedly interfered and tried to prevent officers from arresting her sister. If convicted as charged, both defendants each face up to three years and six months in prison.
The cases remain under investigation by the Los Angeles Police Department, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department and the California Highway Patrol.
