Glass bottles were thrown when police confronted a crowd that gathered during a drum circle event on Venice Beach Sunday and refused to leave after a nightly noise curfew.
About 30 minutes after the sunset noise curfew went into effect, police in sport utility patrol vehicles moved onto the beach and asked the crowd to leave. The bottles were thrown at officers as they took a woman into custody after she approached officers repeatedly with a bottle.
At least one person was taken into custody after Sunday's event.
"It's an unsettling feeling," said LAPD Sgt. Theresa Skinner. "Once one (bottle) comes, then they think it's ok just to continue."
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Participants said the drum circle is part of a peaceful sunset gathering on the beach. Officers said the unruly activity, including confrontations last month that prompted increased beach patrols, appear to involve people who are not members of the usually peaceful drum circle.
"I cannot tell anybody what they can and cannot put in their mouths or their body," said Chief Soaring Eagle. "When you come out here, remember there are children out here. There are families out here."
A March 16 gathering drew about 400 people at the beach. Officers and an LAPD airship responded to the location when authorities asked the crowd to disperse.
