Fact Check: Were there any reports of police misconduct during LA ...

1. Summary of the results

There is substantial documented evidence of police misconduct during LA protests, particularly during the Echo Park protests. The incidents included:

Detention of at least 16 journalists and arrest of two reporters and a blogger ^[1]
Multiple journalists being zip-tied and shot with rubber bullets ^[1]
Australian journalist Lauren Tomasi and reporter Nick Stern were struck by police projectiles, with Stern requiring emergency surgery ^{[2] [3]}
The LAPD has opened investigations into 56 allegations of misconduct, including 28 involving use of force ^[4]
Seven officers were removed from field duty pending investigation ^[4]

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

Several important contextual elements were not addressed in the original question:

The Echo Park incident represented over 25% of all journalist detentions nationwide in 2021 ^[5]
Law enforcement perspective indicates that officers faced violent resistance, including rocks, bottles, and commercial-grade fireworks being thrown at them ^[6]
42 total arrests were made for serious allegations including attempted murder, looting, and arson ^[6]
The Los Angeles Times reviewed video evidence showing officers swinging batons and firing foam rounds, which concerned even Police Chief Michel Moore ^[4]

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The original question's simplicity could lead to incomplete understanding of the situation:

It doesn't acknowledge the scale of the issue - this was not just isolated incidents but part of a "season of discontent" in police-media relations ^[5]
The incidents gained international attention and raised concerns about press freedom ^[2]
Both law enforcement and protesters had different narratives about the events, with police citing violent protest actions ^[6] while evidence showed concerning police behavior ^[4]
The situation was complex enough to warrant multiple internal investigations and the removal of officers from duty ^[4]

Different stakeholders benefit from different narratives:

Law enforcement benefits from emphasizing protester violence and downplaying misconduct
Media organizations benefit from highlighting press freedom violations
Protest organizers benefit from emphasizing police misconduct
City officials benefit from appearing to take action through investigations while maintaining support for law enforcement

Past Checks