LOS ANGELES (CNS) - Several thousand Lakers fans flocked to the area outside the Staples Center to celebrate the team's 17th NBA Championship but there were reports some in the crowd vandalized property and looted some businesses and police made arrests and freeway ramps leading to the area were closed until this morning.
About 75 to 80 people were arrested, according to Los Angeles Police Department Media Relations.
Officers in riot gear were shown in videos from the scene firing non-lethal rounds at celebrants who threw fireworks, rocks and bottles at police after they were d ordered to disperse. Video also showed people in the crowd trying to damage police vehicles by kicking and throwing objects at them.
Video on ABC7 just after 11 p.m. Sunday showed a police bus filled with fans apparently arrested by Los Angeles police officers around Staples Center during a celebration, and others handcuffed and lined up on a sidewalk.
Also after 11 p.m., a photo posted on Twitter showed several Lakers fans standing atop an orange MTA bus spray-painted with graffiti. Another picture amid reports of looting showed a Starbucks that had been looted and painted with graffiti.
Before the scene began to turn ugly, people were seen dancing on Chick Hearn Court and Figueroa Street and setting off firecrackers. Cars were also seen doing donuts on the streets.
At around 10 p.m., video showed paramedics loading a person into a Los Angeles Fire Department ambulance at Figueroa and 11th streets.
At the request of the LAPD, the California Highway Patrol issued a SigAlert and blocked the northbound Pico Boulevard and Ninth Street off-ramps from the Harbor (110) Freeway, as well as the Pico Boulevard off-ramp from the eastbound Santa Monica (10) Freeway. Those ramps were reopened at 1:08 a.m., according to CHP Officer Patrick Kimball.
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