Looters smash windows, rob stores in downtown San Diego, more than 100 arrested

SAN DIEGO (CNS) - Business owners today will assess the damages done by looters who broke into stores in downtown San Diego after police broke up a protest held to seek justice for George Floyd, a black man killed in police custody in Minneapolis.

The looting was reported after 10 p.m. Sunday as large numbers of people moved through the streets of downtown breaking windows and entering stores, according to San Diego police. Police responded en masse, cornering a group of looters near Fifth Avenue and C Street.

Several locations, including a CVS at Fourth Avenue and Broadway and a 7-Eleven nearby, were broken into or vandalized, police reported.

Earlier, police used tear gas and flash-bang grenades against protesters and issued an unlawful assembly order in the area of Broadway in downtown San Diego.

SDPD tweeted early this morning that over 100 people were arrested and booked on various charges including failure to disperse, burglary, assaulting officers and vandalism.

San Diego County officially declared a state of emergency Sunday in reaction to protests nationwide, and several cities imposed an overnight curfew. Jeff Collins, a county spokesman, said the state of emergency was declared in part so the sheriff's department could impose a curfew for unincorporated areas. He said it would also allow the county to seek federal reimbursement if needed.

According to a news release, the curfew was to be imposed at 8 p.m. Sunday in several unincorporated communities including Lakeside and Spring Valley.

According to the Sheriff's Department, all residents were urged to "stay home, indoors and off the streets.'' Violation of the curfew order is a misdemeanor and subject to a fine of up to $1,000 or up to six months in jail, or both. It was unclear if anyone had been arrested for violating curfew orders.

Poway also imposed a curfew beginning at 8 p.m. Sunday. Law enforcement, fire, medical personnel and members of the media are exempt from curfew, as are those commuting ``directly to and from work, seeking emergency care, fleeing dangerous circumstances or experiencing homelessness,'' according to the city.

Santee also imposed an 8 p.m. curfew, CBS8 reported. According to its web site, the city was asking residents to ``please stay home and stay safe'' with their families unless they need ``to travel to work, seek medical care or are experiencing an emergency situation.''

The city of El Cajon Sunday proclaimed a ``dire local emergency'' in the wake of protests, and also imposed a curfew that began at 7 p.m.