Eight LAPD officers injured by rioting Lakers fans after NBA Championship.

Los Angeles, CA (JusticeNewsFlash.com)–The Los Angeles Lakers 99-86 win over the Orlando Magic, in the NBA Finals, on Sunday turned violent resulting in eight Los Angeles Police Department officers suffering injuries, and twenty-five people being arrested, as reported by the Los Angeles Times.

The Staples Center, owned by L.A. Arena Company and Anschutz Entertainment Group, and home to the 2009 NBA Finals became the source of a violent fan frenzy riot last night. When the final buzzer of the 2009 NBA Finals sounded, excited Lakers fans by the hundreds poured out of the Staples Center into the streets of downtown Los Angeles, where their excitement ignited into a riot. The Chicago Tribune reported, many fans could be seen climbing the statues of Earvin “Magic” Johnson and Oscar De La Hoya, while other fans were busy tossing each other around in a mosh-style-pit, throwing rocks, setting small bonfires, toppling squad cars, setting off illegal fireworks, and looting. It is reported twelve city vehicles; including six MTA buses were damaged, along with a traffic light getting knocked down. A pharmacy, shoe store, and a gas station were looted as well. The Metro Blue Line trains were delayed due to debris lying on the tracks which was generated by the out of control crowds.

The LAPD called a tactical alert, which sent dozens of police officers across the city to monitor the growing crowd activity. Around 9 p.m., LAPD officially declared an unlawful assembly near the Staples Center in downtown Los Angeles. The unlawful assembly is defined by Wikipedia, www.wikipedia.com, as a “group of people with the mutual intent of deliberate disturbance of the peace.” The LAPD stated twenty-five arrests were made outside the Staples Center. Police officials are also reporting eight police officers were injured when overexcited fans began throwing rocks and bottles, causing damage to several police cruisers. California state police is reporting at least one police officer was transported by emergency medical services (EMS) to a Los Angeles area hospital for treatment injuries. The LAPD currently does not have an estimate of the damages caused by the fan frenzy.

JusticeNewsFlash.com news for California personal injury lawyers.