A violent agitator who used a slingshot to fire metal objects at officers during violent anti-ICE protests over the weekend has been identified by police as Jose Guillen of Los Angeles.
Guillen, 27, wielded a slingshot to shoot “hard metal objects at officers who were standing on the line” at an anti-ICE demonstration in downtown Los Angeles on Friday night, the Los Angeles Police Department said in a statement posted to social media.
Guillen was arrested at 7:10 p.m. that night and charged with assault with a deadly weapon on a peace officer, a felony punishable by up to five years in state prison, police said.
He was being held Tuesday at the Twin Towers Correctional Facility on $50,000 bail, according to a spokesman for the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.
A lawyer for Guillen couldn’t be reached for comment.
Los Angeles police arrested dozens of protesters during rowdy anti-ICE rallies across the city over the weekend.
Most of the arrests occurred in downtown Los Angeles amid reports of escalating violence.
Police on Saturday night also arrested a juvenile protester on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon on a peace officer, a spokesman for the LAPD said.
The minor threw a rock at a LAPD patrol vehicle during the riot, the spokesman said.
Police located the suspect at Alameda Street and 15th Street and took him into custody just after 11 p.m., according to the spokesman.
No officer victim has been identified in the alleged attack, and the juvenile will be released to a parent or guardian pending further investigation, the spokesman said.
The downtown protests kicked off on Friday and accelerated over the weekend before tapering off after midnight Sunday morning.
On Friday protesters laid siege to Edward R. Roybal Federal Building in downtown Los Angeles, with some throwing trash and bottles at officers there who responded with what appeared to be tear gas and pepper spray, videos showed.
On Saturday night protesters at the intersection of Alameda Street and Aliso Street near the federal building set off fireworks, according to a video of the demonstration there posted online.
Police said fifty people in all were arrested over the weekend for failing to disperse from violent protests in downtown L.A., including three juveniles.
One person was arrested on felony charges of evading police. Another person was charged with vandalism to a van, cops said.
Saturday’s demonstrations also saw masked rioters mob a female news anchor who was trying to cover the rowdy anti-ICE protests.
