LAPD, LASD prepared for possible protests on Election Night

LOS ANGELES - In Downtown Los Angeles, even before a demonstration could turn into an issue, police swooped in and made arrests.

On Tuesday, a group of people gathered near the voting center at Staples Center in hopes of seeing Los Angeles County DA Jackie Lacey lose her re-election bid.

While the weather was good and positive vibes were spreading Tuesday afternoon, something shifted by nightfall. Scores of police officers swarmed the area and a half dozen men were in zip-tie handcuffs.

More than once, the Los Angeles Police Department declared gatherings across downtown Los Angeles an unlawful assembly.

RELATED:

• LA County Sheriff Villanueva warns ‘zero tolerance’ policy for violence, looting due to election unrest
• Dozens of DTLA businesses board up ahead of possible election unrest

During Tuesday night, groups of people were seen leaving the Los Angeles Convention Center area. Each time people gathered together, LAPD officers showed up to break them up, or even arrest them.

LAPD officer Mike Lopez said about 40 people failed to disperse after police declared the gathering an unlawful assembly.

Get your top stories delivered daily! Sign up for FOX 11’s Fast 5 newsletter. And, get breaking news alerts in the FOX 11 News app. Download for iOS or Android.