Oakland police are investigating a commercial burglary and a torched car that followed a peaceful protest in the city’s Fruitvale neighborhood Tuesday.
Officers were sent to the intersection of International Boulevard and 34th Avenue at about 8:40 p.m. Tuesday to investigate a vehicle collision, Oakland police said Wednesday.
When they arrived, several people threw things at the officers in a marked police vehicle and cracked the vehicle’s windshield.
No officers were injured but someone did set fire to one of the vehicles involved in the collision and the flames were soon doused by Oakland Fire Department crews.
Then, at about 9:30 p.m., officers responded to the nearby Shiekh shoe store after about 30 people peeled off from a larger group to break in and steal merchandise.
One person was arrested while allegedly in possession of stolen goods and burglary tools, according to police.
The car fire and burglary came after a peaceful protest against President Donald Trump’s aggressive immigration crackdown and his use of the National Guard in response to anti-Trump protests in Los Angeles.
Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee was in the area earlier Tuesday evening while attending the protest at Fruitvale Plaza.
On Wednesday, Lee thanked the peaceful participants of the event but warned that violent behavior, criminal activity and vandalism won’t be tolerated.
“To the business owners, we are committed to accountability, safety and protecting the well-being of our communities,” Lee said in an emailed statement. “Our commitment to peaceful protest does not extend to rioting, or the destruction of property.”
Oakland police said they are keeping an eye on the rising number of anti-Trump protests breaking out around the country as federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents conduct aggressive sweeps in courtrooms, schools and businesses nationwide.
“OPD is committed to providing safe spaces for individuals to peacefully protest and exercise their First Amendment rights,” department officials said. “Let it be clear: OPD will not tolerate acts of violence, property destruction, or any other criminal behavior in our community.”
OPD officials said the department doesn’t cooperate or assist ICE with “enforcing civil immigration law violations.”
The Oakland Police Officers Association, the union representing the city’s rank-and-file officers, took the opportunity to call for adding more officers to the department.
In addition to the burglary and car fire in the Fruitvale, a 7-Eleven store on Grand Avenue in the city’s Grand Lake neighborhood was robbed three times over a 24-hour period, according to the OPOA.
“Our City Council and new Mayor need to recognize that more police officers are needed now to protect the public, who have let it be known that crime is their top concern,” said OPOA president Huy Nguyen.
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