ARMY VETERAN DETAINED
Reuters witnessed Marines detain one person at the Wilshire Federal Building. Reuters images showed Marines restraining his hands with zip ties and then handing him over to civilians from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) nearly two hours later.
The US military confirmed the detention after being presented with Reuters images, in the first known detention by active duty troops.
The detained man, Marcos Leao, 27, an immigrant and a US Army veteran, said after he was released that he was told to get on the ground upon venturing into a restricted area, as he crossed a line of yellow tape to avoid walking around the building.
Leao, who said he is Portuguese and Angolan and became a US citizen through the military, said he complied with all commands and that the Marines apparently mistook him for a protester when he simply had business with the Veterans Administration office inside the building.
“They treated me very fairly,” Leao said, adding that he was told: “Understand, this is a whole stressful situation for everybody, and we all have a job.”
Asked about the incident, the US military’s Northern Command spokesperson said active duty forces “may temporarily detain an individual in specific circumstances”, and that the detention would end when the person is transferred to civilian law enforcement.
DHS referred press queries to the Northern Command.
Meanwhile, Los Angeles demonstrations continued for an eighth straight day, after they were sparked last Friday by a series of immigration raids.
The demonstrations have been concentrated in the downtown area, and fewer than 1 per cent of those present have caused problems, Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna said.
Some people have been charged with assaulting a police officer, looting or damaging property.
There was a “big difference” between legitimate protesters and “people who are coming out to cause problems”, Luna said at a press conference in which law enforcement officers said they welcomed peaceful protests on Saturday but warned they would arrest those who harm others or damage property.
Bass implemented a curfew over 1 square mile (2.6 sq km) of the downtown area, which officials said has been useful for maintaining order.
Bass said there was “no termination date” for the curfew.
“We are hoping that if the cause of the turmoil ends, which is stopping the raids, then I can almost guarantee you the curfew will go away in short order,” Bass said.
