by The Associated Press
YORBA LINDA, California (AP) — A woman who authorities say drove a car into a crowd during a Southern California demonstration against police brutality, striking and injuring two people, has been arrested for investigation of attempted murder and assault.
The Orange County Sheriff’s Department said in a statement late Saturday that 40-year-old Tatiana Turner of Long Beach was booked into jail.
Turner drove a car into a crowd at a demonstration against police brutality and systemic racism Saturday that drew protesters and counter-protesters to the city of Yorba Linda, the statement said. The event was organized by a group called Caravan for Justice and Turner was believed to be part of the group, authorities said.
Sheriff’s authorities said about 150 people initially showed up for the demonstration in the small city some 30 miles (48 kilometers) southeast of downtown Los Angeles. About a half hour later, authorities received reports of fights breaking out between the two groups and declared an unlawful assembly, the statement said. One man was arrested for failing to obey an order for the crowd to disperse.
Turner was arrested after driving a car in a library parking lot that struck at least two people who were taken to a nearby hospital with major but non-life threatening injuries, the statement said.
Turner is being held on $1 million bail and expected to appear in court on Tuesday, according to a county website. It was not immediately known if she had a lawyer.
On Thursday night, a protester was struck by a pickup truck during a march in Hollywood and suffered non-life-threatening injuries. Los Angeles police said Friday the preliminary investigation found that the driver was attempting to maneuver through the crowd when protesters began beating the vehicle with sticks.
The driver was attempting to drive away from the situation when he struck the protester. The driver stopped several blocks away and cooperated with officers. He was released pending the outcome of the investigation.
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About the Headline Photo: An unidentified woman is taken into custody after witnesses said she drove her car into a crowd of protesters in Yorba Linda, Calif., Saturday, Sept. 26, 2020. Authorities said people were struck by a car and injured during a Black Lives Matter protest and counter protest about 30 miles southeast of Los Angeles. Orange County Sheriff’s Department spokeswoman Carrie Braun says the injured were transported to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries and the driver was detained. (Mindy Schauer/The Orange County Register via AP)