County Requests National Guard in La Mesa for Security Assistance
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Instigators who "hijacked" Saturday's protest in La Mesa set vehicles on fire and looted stores. NBC 7's Niala Charles has more.
National Guard soldiers were deployed in La Mesa Wednesday night, requested by San Diego County to assist with security.
The county requested security assistance from the National Guard for the entire region, according to an alert message from the city of La Mesa. The message said National Guard service members may be seen in other parts of the county.
NBC 7 reporter Dave summers captured video of National Guard vehicles arriving at City Hall.
San Diego County Sheriff Bill Gore said California Governor Gavin Newsom had ordered 200 National Guard soldiers to the San Diego region during a phone interview with NBC 7 Wednesday evening.
NBC 7's Catherine Garcia interviewed San Diego County Sheriff Bill Gore on the banning use of the carotid restraint.
200 members of the @CaArmyGuard are in the county following a request from @SDSheriff Gore. They will work alongside law enforcement providing security to critical infrastructures (public buildings, courthouses, power grids, etc.) during the protests to prevent looting & arson.
La Mesa, a city in eastern San Diego County, saw the first mass protests in the region last Saturday. Saturday's demonstration was in response to the in-custody killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis days before, and was also in response to a controversial arrest of a black man by a La Mesa Police Department officer which was went viral on social media.
Protesters formed a large crowd in front of the police department and city hall buildings, chanting in unison and holding signs. Instigators who, according to Mayor Mark Araposthathis, hijacked the protest "in a concerted effort to burn down the city," also descended on the buildings Saturday night.
As per request from the county, the National Guard was deployed to La Mesa to assist with security and may be seen in other cities.
The resulting unrest led to tear gas and other crowd-dispersing tactics being used. The crowd soon dispersed, but violent instigators spread to nearby business strips and shopping centers.
Two bank buildings and a museum were burned, and several other fires were set to vehicles and stores in the downtown area.
"Although we were prepared with as many uniformed officers as we were provisioned from the county, from other jurisdictions, and also from the state, we were outnumbered," Arapsthathis said.
Frank curtis
Frank Curtis said this was taken at the shopping center in La Mesa where it shows two people of different races coming together during a difficult time.
Anobel Khoushabeh
A protester with milk on his face in La Mesa.
Anobel Khoushabeh
A protester with goggles in La Mesa.
NBC 7
Anobel Khoushabeh
A protester suffers an injury to his upper back during a demonstration in La Mesa.
Anobel Khoushabeh
A woman has milk on her face to help recover from wounds following a protest in La Mesa.
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Telemundo 20, Mar Gonzales
Community members come together to clean up the aftermath of the protests.
NBC 7, Ramon Galindo
Locals are seen cleaning up an acupuncturist office.
Ramon Galindo, NBC 7
This is the Randall Lamb building, an engineering firm, that was burned on Saturday night in La Mesa.
Ramon Galindo, NBC 7
This is the Randall Lamb building, an engineering firm, that was burned on Saturday night in La Mesa.
Telemundo 20, Mar Gonzales
Community members come together to clean up the aftermath of the protests.
NBC 7, Steven Luke
This is what La Mesa Chase Bank looked like the morning of May 31, 2020
NBC 7, Ramon Galindo
This is the Union Bank in La Mesa on the morning of May 31, 2020
NBC 7, Steven Luke
Heartland Fire & Rescue vehicle on fire in the La Mesa area on May 30, 2020.
Looters break into the Walmart at Grossmont Center.
Niala Charles/NBC 7
Chase Bank location in La Mesa set on fire during protests on May 30, 2020.
A crowd gathered outside the La Mesa Police Department moments before officers deployed tear gas into the crowd on May 30, 2020.
Lauren Coronado/NBC 7
Tear gas deployed into the crowd outside the La Mesa Police headquarters on May 30, 2020.
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La Mesa Police deploy tear gas into the crowd outside the headquarters on May 30, 2020.
NBC 7
La Mesa Police deploy tear gas into the crowd outside the headquarters on May 30, 2020.
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Law enforcement in tactical gear surrounding the La Mesa Police headquarters on May 30, 2020.
La Mesa Police deploy tear gas into the crowd outside the headquarters on May 30, 2020.
NBC 7
The California Highway Patrol in a standoff with protesters on Interstate 8 on May 30, 2020.
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Moments before the crowd breaks through the California Highway Patrol blockade on an Interstate 8 onramp.
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Demonstrators flood both directions of Interstate 8 on May 30, 2020.
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The California Highway Patrol in a standoff with protesters on May 30, 2020.
Niala Charles/NBC 7
Protesters gathered outside the headquarters early in the day on May 30, 2020.
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Racial Justice Coalition gathered at Liberty Station before a car caravan protest on May 30, 2020.
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Todd A. Davidson
Todd A. Davidson
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Carmen Adams
Armored vehicle in La Mesa outside Sally's beauty supply
