Protests after Anaheim policeman drags teen, fires gun

LAPD says it is reviewing videos after off-duty officer fires gun during confrontation with unarmed youths in Anaheim.

Protests have erupted in the US city of Anaheim after a video
circulating on social media captured the moment an off-duty
police officer fired a shot after pulling a gun on a 13-year-old
boy and other teenagers.

The footage, recorded on Wednesday, shows the officer in
civilian clothes dragging the boy, who demands the man
release him.

The 13-year-old, later identified by his parents as Christian
Dorscht, challenges the man to produce evidence that he is
an officer, which he refuses to do.

As the confrontation escalates, some of Dorscht's friends,
attempt to physically free him from the officer's clutch, at
which point the man pulls a pistol from his belt and fires a
shot, prompting a gathered group of Latino and black

teenagers to flee.

At the end of the video, a uniformed police officer arrives at
the scene but it is not clear whom he arrests.

Local reports later said Dorscht and another teen were
arrested following the confrontation.

The incident is believed to have started after the officer
accused the teenagers of walking on his lawn.

The Los Angeles Police Department, or LAPD, to which the
unidentified officer belonged, said it was investigating the
incident, in a statement published Thursday.

"[Investigators] are aware there is a video of the incident and
will review all video in this case,” the statement said, adding:
"The officer is currently on administrative leave."

The confrontation provoked an angry reaction on social media, with many accusing the police of racism for its perceived failure to punish the officer involved.

Dozens of people in Anaheim protested against police
brutality overnight on Wednesday with some attempting to
march on the officer’s home.

Police officials there said 24 people were arrested for
"misdemeanour charges including failure to disperse".

In July 2012, protests erupted in Anaheim after the killing of
25-year-old Manuel Angel Diaz, a Latino man who was
unarmed at the time.

No criminal charges were filed against the officers
 responsible and a civil jury later cleared the pair of charges 
of using excessive force.

The issue of excessive force used by police forces, especially
against people of colour, is one of the key drivers of the
Black Lives Matter movement.