Americas

Americas

Police arrest 24 protestors to restore order in U.S. city

25 July 2012 21:45 (UTC +04:00)

Baku-APA. A total of 24 people were arrested on Wednesday during the fourth day of clashes between police and protestors over two separate shootings in the city of Anaheim, southern California, according to local police sources, APA reports quoting Xinhua.

The city police claimed the order was fully restored on Wednesday morning after police officers turned away some 600 protestors gathered on Tuesday outside Anaheim City Hall as the City Council met to vote to ask federal authorities to investigate the officer-involved shootings.

The protests started four days ago when Manuel Diaz, 25, and Joel Mathew Acevedo, 21, both of whom were claimed by police as known gang members, were shot dead by police officers.

Diana Lopez, an attorney for the Diaz family, announced Tuesday a 50-million-dollar claim against the city, alleging civil rights violations by Anaheim police.

Two officers, including the one who shot Diaz, have been placed on paid leave while an investigation was pending.

The shootings have triggered rounds of protests during which angry protestors shattered the windows of at least six downtown businesses and set small trash fires, said Bob Dunn, an Anaheim police spokesman.

Dunn said police first used loudspeakers to order them to disperse, but later began to fire non-lethal rounds at the feet of protesters as people were still gathering.

According to the police, 20 adults and four juveniles have been arrested during the clashes, and at least five people were reported hurt.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office, along with local and state level law enforcement agencies, is expected to joint the investigation of the shootings.