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Title: 200 Officers Clear Streets In Vista After Reported Immigrant Riot
Source:
www.signonsandiego.com
URL Source: http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/ ... ty/20060502-9999-7m2vista.html
Published: May 2, 2006
Author: By Pauline Repard and Kristina Davis
Post Date: 2006-05-02 06:42:48 by Mind_Virus
Keywords: None
Views: 165
Comments: 8
200 Officers Clear Streets In Vista After Reported Riot By Pauline Repard and Kristina Davis UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITERS May 2, 2006 VISTA – Law officers from around the county raced into Vista last night to help quell what sheriff's officials called a riot, with crowds throwing rocks and bottles at deputies. Authorities estimated 800 to 1,200 people swarmed the streets after a rally to protest the proposed federal immigration bill had broken up at Wildwood Park on East Vista Way at Escondido Avenue. Nearly 200 officers poured into town in the hours after Vista deputies radioed for help about 8 p.m. Officers dressed in riot gear started clearing the streets and ordering crowds to disperse about 11 p.m. Rows of officers with dogs marched down Santa Fe Avenue, followed by cruisers and an armored SWAT car. “If you don't go home now, you'll be arrested,” officers told the crowd. At Avenida de Benito Juarez and West Los Angeles Drive, officers were donning gas masks at 11:40 p.m. when crowds refused to leave. Some people reportedly had armed themselves with rocks. By 12:30 a.m., police had cleared the area. During the day, deputies had been monitoring the park rally, then reported that people were throwing bottles at them, sheriff's Capt. Glenn Revell said. Revell said deputies retreated and were not injured. Revell said crowds split into three groups, some staying near Wildwood Park, while others congregated along Melrose Drive. Others sat down and blocked the intersection at North Santa Fe Avenue and Bobier Street until officers converged to break up the crowd. Some 200 people walked up and down Santa Fe Avenue from Bobier Drive to Vista Village Drive. About 10:30 p.m., 40 to 50 police cars lined Santa Fe Avenue. Many officers wore helmets and padding. “It's not supposed to be a riot, it's supposed to be peaceful,” said Adrian Olivos, 21, of Vista. “I don't know why there is all the commotion.” “It was spontaneous,” said Christina Colt, 19, of Vista. “People were waving the Mexican and American flags. They all just came together, and out of nowhere cops just started pouring in, and canines.” Near Wildwood Park, a mob swarmed two television trucks, throwing rocks and trying to overturn them. “The Sheriff's Department is not placing blame on the demonstrators,” Revell said. “We believe this is a very small group of people who are making this protest for criminal behavior.” Councilman Frank Lopez said the park rally had been peaceful but loud. “It was calm, people were enjoying themselves,” Lopez said. He added that later in the evening, he could hear young people racing up and down the streets in trucks, waving flags and yelling. “I saw a lot of officers go by” soon after that, Lopez said. Sheriff's officials requested aid from law agencies around the county. Five Carlsbad officers headed to Vista about 8:30 p.m. About 9 p.m., the California Highway Patrol sent eight officers from its El Cajon-area office. A short time later, 20 San Diego police officers started racing, lights and sirens on, toward Vista. Escondido sent 19 officers and Oceanside sent nine. They came from as far away as Coronado and La Mesa, which each sent three officers, while El Cajon sent five, National City six and Chula Vista 11. Many officers came with patrol dogs, forming lines in the street. Some officers reported no scenes of violence as the evening wore on, but that disturbances popped up in different parts of town. Mayor Morris Vance said the Wildwood Park cultural event featured a lot of music and speakers, but was breaking up in the late afternoon. Vance knew of no one with permits to march afterward. Staff writer Elena Gaona contributed to the report.
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Julio Alcala of Oxnard, whistle in mouth, uses a video camera to film the event. Alcala wore a Mexican wrestling mask and called himself "Myteriosos". (Stephen Osman / LAT) May. 1, 2006
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