Metro bus set on fire, vandalism, burgarrests in L.A. as Dodgers win World Series

Ecstatic fans took to the streets of Los Angeles after the Dodgers won the franchise’s eighth World Series title, but the joy turned into scattered unrest downtown and in nearby areas overnight, with vehicles burned and businesses burglarized.

Crowds gathered Wednesday night near L.A. Live to celebrate, at times setting off fireworks. The Los Angeles Police Department issued a dispersal order, but it took several hours to clear the streets.

In downtown, multiple businesses were burglarized or vandalized, though exact details were not available. Police said some in the crowd were “hostile” and threw objects at officers. Videos showed people stealing from a Nike Jordan store on Broadway and cars doing doughnuts at intersections to roars from bystanders.

In Echo Park, a Metro bus was set on fire.

“Metro is disappointed and angered by the senseless act of vandalism on one of our buses following the Dodgers World Series Win earlier this evening,” the transportation agency said in a statement.

LAPD declared four unlawful assemblies throughout the city, in celebrations that officials said turned unruly.

By the end of the night, a dozen people were arrested, including seven who were suspected of being involved in smash-and-grab incidents at two stores. Four people were tied to a break-in at Jumpman, and another three at Footlocker, according to LAPD booking records.

Workers had boarded up the windows of the Jumpman shoe store before Game 5 of the World Series on Wednesday, but it wasn’t enough to keep a large crowd from breaking in.

LAPD Sgt. Bruce Bonihanh said police were also investigating the destruction of a bus and looking for those responsible.

At least one man was injured, officials said, when a firework exploded in his hand.

Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna said his deputies also made arrests.

“We had additional staff out to make sure that people in Los Angeles County celebrated safety and responsibly, and I am happy to report that the majority of our community members, true Dodger fans, celebrated in that manner,” Luna said. “Unfortunately we did have a couple of pockets throughout the county where we had some challenges.”

LAPD officials said more arrests could still occur as they investigate some of the incidents from Wednesday night. In at least some instances, police deployed less-lethal munitions to control the crowds.

On Thursday morning, workers arrived to clean up the aftermath, painting over graffiti on the metal window shutters along Broadway and blasting away paint on the sidewalks with pressure washers.

A steady thrum of people made their way along the busy corridor on their way to work, shop or eat. Several shoe boxes, remnants of the night’s smash-and-grab, were found scattered on the street and sidewalk along Broadway. Workers at Jumpman declined to comment.

“It was so ugly this morning,” said Otto Pérez, 49, a handyman who was painting over metal shutters with beige paint Thursday morning.

He said he wasn’t surprised at what happened because people often spray paint over the storefronts in the neighborhood.

Clifton’s Cafeteria facilities manager David Matza had the tedious job of scraping spray paint off the windows on Broadway.

“It was bad,” Matza said. “There was paint on all the windows. It’s not surprising that this happened. But what a mess.”

Montserrat Bertellotik, co-owner at Serratti Italian coffee shop on 4th Street, said he felt that the scene in the neighborhood was not that bad.

“I was sure that the looting wouldn’t continue beyond the night,” she said.

Mayor Karen Bass said that despite some incidents, the “overwhelming majority of celebrations last night were joyful and peaceful.”

“We will work to keep Angelenos safe as always,” Bass said, adding that, “violence of any kind will not be tolerated.”

Downtown previously has been the site of unrest, after both the Lakers and the Dodgers won championships.

There were numerous other celebrations across the city Wednesday night, and most of the revelry marking the historic victory was without incident.

The Dodgers became the first Major League Baseball team to win a World Series-clinching game when trailing by five runs, rallying to beat the New York Yankees 7-6 in Game 5.

Fans flooded Whittier Boulevard in East L.A., dancing, setting off fireworks and chanting. Neighbors banged pots and pans on their porches while a chorus of fireworks, cheers and sirens rang out in Highland Park. And in Little Tokyo, fans gathered near the Shohei Ohtani mural to celebrate the beloved player who this year became the first in history to hit 50 home runs and steal 50 bases in a season.

The sheer display of fireworks across the city rivaled the Fourth of July, while Los Angeles City Hall and the “D” on the Hollywood sign were lighted up in Dodger blue to celebrate the win.

Authorities had closed off some streets in East L.A. and downtown in hopes of preventing some of the more intense celebrations that occurred when the Dodgers won in 2020.

Nevertheless, fan energy could not be contained.

In East Los Angeles, the fireworks began to blast the moment Walker Buehler struck out Alex Verdugo to win the Series. People poured out of their houses and headed toward Whittier Boulevard, the Eastside’s historical corridor.

“This is so incredible!” screamed Boyle Heights resident Jessica Gutierrez, 33. “We’ve waited so long for this, and you just have to be with all your fellow Dodger fans.”

The L.A. County Sheriff’s Department and California Highway Patrol had blocked off the intersection of Whittier and Atlantic boulevards in an effort to stymie cruising, but to no avail — cars merely did a U-turn on Hillview Avenue.

Near Hoefner Avenue in front of the Commerce Center, fans stood in the middle of Whittier Boulevard to record the passing parade. Although it was too crowded to do full spinouts, cars still spun their tires to burn rubber, to the cheer of crowds.

“Oh, my God, that was the craziest game I’ve ever seen,” one fan told KCAL News at a watch party in downtown L.A. “We are back on top after 2020, and we finally get our parade!”

The Dodgers parade set for Friday will be the first in 36 years, after hopes of a 2020 communal celebration were stymied by the COVID-19 lockdown.

“Tonight, we showed the world that Los Angeles is made of CHAMPIONS,” Bass wrote in a statement on X. “Congratulations to the Dodgers on tonight’s win. Looking forward to seeing you back in LA!”

After falling behind 5-0 after three innings Wednesday night at Yankee Stadium, the team staged a stunning five-run comeback in the fifth. After falling behind again, they rallied again in the eighth.

“It was nerve-racking! I was so nervous, but we kept our faith, and fortunately things went our way,” one fan told KCAL News at a watch party in Pasadena. “I’m just glad and excited we won.”