The Los Angeles Police Department is investigating a series of incidents on Sept. 24 during a protest in Hollywood involving two vehicles that allegedly drove through a group of demonstrators, striking and injuring one individual.

The series of incidents began shortly after 7 p.m., when a group of more than 300 protestors marched through Hollywood. Isolated reports of vandalism were logged, but the group was peaceful, police said.  The crowd eventually made its way onto Sunset Boulevard.

Shortly after 9 p.m., a blue pickup traveling on Sunset Boulevard near Seward Street attempted to maneuver through the crowd of protestors. According to initial investigative reports, the driver was surrounded as he drove past the crowd. The protestors allegedly began striking his vehicle with sticks and tried to open the door to his vehicle, police said. As he attempted to drive away, the driver allegedly struck a protestor who was in the street, police added. The individual was transported to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. 

Officers from the LAPD’s Hollywood Division stopped the pickup driver several blocks away. He cooperated with officers and provided information. The vehicle had evidence of damage from the confrontation with protestors, police said. The driver was released pending the outcome of a hit and run investigation. 

Approximately 40 minutes later, a white Prius attempted to drive around the same group of protestors near Sunset Boulevard and Vine Street and was quickly surrounded by the crowd. Video from news broadcasts showed protestors striking and damaging the Prius as it drove through the group. The Prius drove away and was chased for one block by a black pickup truck, believed to be involved with the protest, police said. The truck accelerated and forced the Prius to stop.  The driver of the Prius attempted to flee the area and reversed, striking a Ford Mustang that had driven up behind the Toyota.  The driver of the Mustang also appeared to be associated with the demonstration, police said.

Occupants from both the pick-up truck and the Mustang surrounded the Prius and began striking the vehicle. Both the driver of the pickup and the Mustang attempted to extract the driver of the Prius from his vehicle. Police reviewed video from media helicopters showing the incident. The driver of the Prius accelerated and drove off and was stopped several blocks away. He also cooperated with Hollywood Division officers, police said. There were no initial reports of injuries involved with the second incident.

Anyone with information is asked to call the LAPD’s Hollywood Division at (213)972-2971.