Sometime around 4 am on Saturday night, approximately 25 to 40 people moved from the east thru the toy district along Winston Street to Main Street settling between 4th and 5th. The crowd held primitive weapons of sticks, bottles, and knives. In some cases bicycles were used. The fight escalated killing at least one person. Reports from area residents say as many as 4 may have died. The cause is unknown for what started the massive street fight.

It was loud, violent, and out of control. The police lines were busy as area residents attempted to call 911. After several tries, callers got thru.

If gang activity or a war along racial lines is breaking out in the downtown area, this could be a serious set back to revitalisation. It also could prove a challenge to the new police chief as well as his force on the streets. The violence was centered one block from the old bank district, now being developed by Tom Gilmore and others.

Jan Perry has been very active in efforts to renew downtown and is pushing to get the homeless off the streets. Are the two connected--Saturday's violent out break and the police sweeps of the homeless? Unknown. But the sweeps have disrupted the regulars who live downtown who can no longer can hang out where they once did before.

The street fight is not being reported in the LA Times. That's one thing that is clear. And if the city doesn't jump on this, downtown may empty out once again and return to being a ghost town.

Please post as much info as you can, if this is class cleansing, I want to investigate, I'll check back here.

There were a number of brawls that night that kept the police busy, all concentrated in the downtown area around the toy district/skid row.

The fight on Winston was by far the largest and most deadly. But here is the most pressing question: where were the police helicopters? Not one showed up even though multiple callers were reporting 20 to 40 people were massed in the street fighting.

Residents of the area are concerned the next fight will bring guns to the neighborhood. Not a comforting thought.

And why did the police not send a helicopter?

The helicopters are all on their way to Iraq, alonfg with billions of $$ of your tax money. Our government doesn't give a crap about inner-city violence.

Downtown residents hope that more information will be available from a recently announced LAPD meeting. Downtown residents should be encouraged to attend and ask questions. What happened and why was police response slow in getting to the massive brawl? Why were 911 lines busy?

LAPD Community Police Advisory Board - 3/5/03

The March Meeting of the Community Police Advisory Board (C-PAB) for the Central Area Police Station will be held Wednesday, March 5, 2003, at Olvera Street Plaza, 125 Paseo De La Plaza, in Hellman Quan Building.

Parking is available and will be validated at the meeting. The parking lot is located at 615 N. Main St., Lot #2. Refreshments will be served at 8:15 am and the meeting will commence at 8:30 am.

If you have any questions contact Police Officer Irma Foster at Central Community Relations, (213) 485 -6586.