Los Angeles sees city bus torchings, shoplifting and rowdy crowds after Dodgers win World Series

LOS ANGELES (AP) — A rowdy crowd then took to the streets of Los Angeles the Dodgers won the World Seriessetting fire to a city bus, entering shops and setting off fireworks. Police reported a dozen arrests Thursday, but officials emphasized that most fans celebrated peacefully.

Video showed revelers throwing objects at police in downtown LA as sirens blared and officers told them to leave the area late Wednesday after the Dodgers’ defeat the Yankees in Game 5 in New York.

Another video showed someone standing on top of a bus waving a Dodgers banner and people running from a boarded-up Nike store with armfuls of sneakers before throwing the merchandise into cars parked outside. No injuries have been reported.

Despite some unrest, “the vast majority of festivities last night were joyful and peaceful,” Mayor Karen Bass said at a news conference Thursday, where she discussed the logistics of Friday’s planned victory parade.

“We will do our best to keep Angelenos safe as always,” Bass said, emphasizing that “violence of any kind will not be tolerated.”

The mayor, wearing a Dodgers jersey with her name on the back, noted that the parade will be held on what would have been Fernando Valenzuela ‘s 64th birthday. The beloved Dodgers pitcher passed away last week.

Bass said she will send a Dodgers jersey to New York Mayor Eric Adams to wear at his City Hall “because he lost the bet.”

Officials said Los Angeles police will be on high alert all week to protect communities and businesses in the city, which was the site of previous unrest following championship victories by both the Lakers and Dodgers.

There were some “unruly and at times violent and hostile celebrations” after Wednesday’s victory, with several acts of vandalism including the torching of a Metropolitan Transportation Authority bus, LAPD spokesman Drake Madison said in an email.

Arrests were made on charges such as failure to distribute, receiving stolen property or commercial burglary, Madison said. There were also several incidents of street takeovers downtown and police used less-lethal munitions to control several hostile and violent crowds, Madison said. In the coming days, detectives will try to identify those responsible for crimes, he said.

Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna said his deputies will be on full alert for several events, including the Dodgers’ victory celebration, Halloween festivities and the upcoming election. He urged fans not to set off illegal fireworks, take over intersections or spin cars, all of which happened Wednesday night.

“The individuals involved last night were a very small part of the east Los Angeles community as most were celebrating because they loved their Dodgers,” Luna said.

The Evaders plan to commemorate their championship Friday with a parade downtown, followed by a party at Dodger Stadium. The team said Wednesday that fans will not be able to attend both events due to logistics, traffic and timing.

Members of the Dodgers were expected to travel on double-decker buses along a 45-minute route through the city streets.

Officials urged people on Friday to work from home and use public transport where possible.

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Associated Press journalists Sarah Brumfield in Washington, DC, and Kathy McCormack in Concord, New Hampshire, contributed to this report.

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This story corrects that Bass was not wearing a Valenzuela jersey, but one with her name on the back.

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