Hundreds of protesters hit the streets in Anaheim Wednesday night following the release of footage alleging to show an off-duty cop firing his gun during a confrontation with teenagers. An estimated 300 demonstrators showed up in the west Anaheim neighborhood where the shooting took place, with the Los Angeles Timesreporting they eventually made their way to nearby streets and blocked intersections.
Videos captured by witnesses of the encounter appear to show the unnamed off-duty LAPD officer grabbing a 13-year-old boy and dragging him across a lawn:
In a statement released amid a flood of emails and calls from concerned citizens, the Anaheim Police Department claimed the footage does not depict the "entire" event.
"Our job is to collect all of the facts and evidence to present the clearest and most accurate information to the District Attorney's Office as they make their decision on the filing of criminal charges," the department said. "As far as the officer's employment status, he does not work for our agency, but the LAPD is completing its own investigation into the actions of their officer."
Photos shared across social media Wednesday night show multiple LAPD officers guarding the purported residence of the officer, who has since been placed on administrative leave:
The teen in question, Christian Dorscht, reportedly had no knowledge he was passing the property of an off-duty LAPD cop when the officer allegedly "swore at" his friend for possibly walking on his lawn. Speaking withFusion's Wilfred Chan Thursday, Christian's father said his son was only trying to defend his friend. "My son defended her and said, 'Don't talk to a lady like that,'" Johnny Dorscht said. "That's when the cop got mad and confronted my son, and threw him on the floor. The cop was choking him out. He got away, the cop pulled him back, and that's when the video started."
Though no charges have been filed against the cop, Dorscht said his son was hit with "battery and terrorist threats" charges before they were dropped the next day. During Wednesday night's protests, the Anaheim Police Department's preliminary reports show that "approximately 24 arrests" were made at Euclid and Palais. "All arrests were for misdemeanor violations including failure to disperse," the department said.
