A police officer chases away two men vandalizing a police vehicle in Los Angeles after the Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Orlando Magic to win the NBA championship, Sunday, June 14, 2009.( AP)
A man jumps on a car as Los Angeles Lakers fans celebrate after the Lakers defeated the Orlando Magic in Game 5 of the NBA basketball finals in downtown Los Angeles, Sunday, June 14, 2009. (AP)
Two men throw a trash can at a Los Angeles Metro Rail after the Lakers defeated the Orlando Magic in Game 5 of the NBA basketball finals in downtown Los Angeles, Sunday, June 14, 2009. (AP)
Los Angeles Lakers fans set fire to a statue outside the Staples Center while celebrating their teams victory in the NBA Finals over the Orlando Magic in downtown Los Angeles, Sunday, June 14, 2009.(AP)
LOS ANGELES, June 15 (Xinhua) -- Celebration over Los Angeles Lakers' victory in the NBA Championship last night led to riots, in which 18 people were arrested and eight police officers injured, police said on Monday.
Thousands of Angelenos took to the streets in downtown Los Angeles following the Lakers' victory over Orlando Magic in Orlando in a celebration that turned ugly, according to the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD).
The Lakers beat the Orlando Magic 99-86, taking the series four games to one. It's the team's 15th championship and coach Phil Jackson's 10th,which is more than any other NBA coach.
While most of the crowd celebrated safely, small groups of people used the party atmosphere as an excuse to run wild, set bonfires, light fireworks, commit vandalism, loot stores, try to overturn vehicles and pelt police with bottles, rocks and even fire crackers, said the LAPD.
A number of "knuckleheads" started fires, looted several stores, tried to overturn cars and assaulted police, L.A. Police Chief William Bratton said.
Speaking to Fox11, Bratton said officers "used minimal levels of force, behaving very professionally," despite attempts to provoke them.
Police were out in force, and managed to split the crowd into smaller groups even as they became targets for fan violence, in which eight police officers were injured, according to LAPD Police Department Officer Norma Eisenman.
Some officers were injured when fans hurled bricks and bottles, said Los Angeles police Sgt. Andy Mathes of the Central Station.
Police arrested 18 people for various offenses including arson; failure to disperse; inciting a riot; and misdemeanor warrants, Eisenman said.
The actual number of arrests was revised downward from an estimate of 25 that was reported last night by various media outlets.
Twelve LAPD vehicles, one sheriff's vehicle and six Metro buses were damaged, Eisenman said.
Street disturbances also followed Lakers championship victories in 2000, 2001 and 2002.
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