Videos posted on social media showed police trying to disperse the large crowd near Cherokee Avenue. (photo courtesy of YouTube)

Police in riot gear were called in to disperse a crowd that became unruly at a skateboarding event in Hollywood on Sept. 9 and started fires, vandalized vehicles and spray-painted graffiti. Officers arrested three suspects for vandalism in the aftermath of the event.

Los Angeles Police Department spokeswoman Lizeth Lomeli said problems started around 7:20 p.m. in the 1600 block of North Cherokee Avenue, between Hollywood Boulevard and Selma Avenue. An event titled Skate Jam was being held in a parking lot along Cherokee Avenue, with skateboarders jumping off ramps and performing stunts around a mock police car covered in graffiti. The event was held by F***ing Awesome World Entertainment and Adidas Skateboarding. Capt. Craig Heredia, with the LAPD’s Hollywood Division, said organizers had a permit to hold the event and authorities were monitoring it. Heredia said approximately 1,500 people showed up and the crowd became unmanageable. Los Angeles Fire Department authorities also responded and the LAPD declared it an unlawful assembly. Soon thereafter, officers formed a skirmish line to disperse the crowd.

Graffiti was spray painted at many locations along Cherokee avenue and vehicles were vandalized, including one LAFD vehicle and one LAPD patrol car. No information was available about the three people who were arrested.

Heredia said it was unclear how many people were initially expected to attend the event and it was unexpected that such a large crowd showed up. The event was extensively publicized on social media.

“[We had] no indication it would create a situation where the crowd would become unruly,” Heredia added.

Authorities are investigating the incident and will determine if any measures will be taken against the organizers. Adidas Skateboarding did not return a request for comment on the incident, and a person who answered the phone for F***ing Awesome World Entertainment said there was “no comment” before hanging up.

Graffiti spray-painted on buildings along Cherokee Avenue by members of the crowd remained on Sept. 12. (photo by Edwin Folven)