Death of Tire Nichols: 1 person arrested following weekend protests in the LA area after violent video was released

LOS ANGELES (KABC) — About 50 demonstrators protesting the death of Tire Nichols at the hands of Memphis police left about eight stores across Los Angeles vandalized and one person arrested, according to police.

The protester was arrested on suspicion of vandalism and was in possession of spray paint and a glass-breaking tool after a protest in Hollywood. The suspect allegedly smashed the window of a store on the 1500 block of Cahuenga Boulevard.

Afterward, police said, he marched on with a group before reaching the 1600 block of Vine Street, where he stopped to spray paint the wall of another business. The suspect is being held on $20,000 bail.

Protesters from the Black Lives Matter group rallied in Venice on Sunday in what was the third straight night of protests in the LA area, most of which have been peaceful.

Protests began that night at LA Police Headquarters following the release of a graphic video showing Nichols’ fatal caning on Friday. This comes as the five Memphis police officers have since been fired and charged with murder.

Some in the crowd surrounded parked police cars – hitting them and smashing windows.

The group marched through downtown Los Angeles with Black Lives Matter banners and smartphones before gathering on First and Main Streets just after 8 p.m. for a candlelight vigil for Nichols and also for Keenan Anderson, who died on March 6 January died in LAPD custody after being repeatedly shot with a Taser.

Demonstrators knocked down protective metal barriers and someone spray-painted the word “kills” under the words Los Angeles Police Department on the building.

The Memphis police chief on Saturday disbanded the city’s so-called Scorpion unit, citing a “cloud of shame” from a newly released video that showed some of their officers beating Nichols to death.

Police Superintendent Cerelyn “CJ” Davis acted a day after the harrowing video appeared, saying she listened to Nichols’ relatives, community leaders and bystander officials as they made the decision. Her announcement came as the nation and city struggled to deal with violence by officers, who are also black. The video renewed doubts as to why fatal encounters with law enforcement continue to occur despite repeated calls for change.

Demonstrators marching through downtown Memphis cheered when they heard the unit had been disbanded.

City News Service, Inc. contributed to this report.