Tense Standoff Ends Between LAPD And Dozens Of Protestors In Florence

FLORENCE (CBSLA.com) — An unruly crowd of planned protestors Saturday dispersed from the area after a tense standoff concluded with police.

According to officials, about 50 people marched in protest against officers in honor of Ezell Ford and Omar Abrego for several hours.

The standoff began shortly before 8 p.m. in the area of 65th Street and Broadway, police said.

KCAL9's Cristy Fajardo spoke with protestors who admitted they blocked the street, but accused LAPD officers of over reacting at the demonstration.

According to a protestor named Cheebo, officers approached the group with weapons drawn and ordered that they had five minutes to disperse from the area before officers would move in.

"In two minutes they came through and just forced everybody out of the way," Cheebo said. "We was trying to be peaceful. We just want answers and they jumped out on us with guns."

Officers said they decided to clear the crowd because protestors were kicking cars and throwing bottles at police.

Many took to social media to post videos of the protest, however, no injuries were reported during the demonstration.

According to officers, only a handful of protestors remained on a street corner in the area before 11 p.m. and no arrests were made.

Ford was fatally shot by two Los Angeles Police Department officers in August in South Los Angeles. His parents filed a wrongful death lawsuit, accusing police of racial profiling and using excessive force against their son.

Abrego was also killed last month during a confrontation with LAPD officers. His head was struck during an altercation that occurred with police after they pulled him over for driving erratically. He died at a hospital the following morning.

The protest was originally planned to start at 3 p.m. in South Los Angeles with more than 100 demonstrators.