Reporter struck with police projectile, detained at LA protest

MintPress News reporter Jalyssa Dugrot was struck in the leg with a police crowd-control munition, then detained and zip-tied while covering a “No Kings” protest in downtown Los Angeles, California, on June 14, 2025.

The demonstration was one of many “No Kings” protests held across the country in opposition to President Donald Trump, and was planned to coincide with a military parade on Trump’s birthday, marking the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army.

At the LA rally, the political climate was already tense following a series of aggressive immigration raids and anti-deportation protests across Southern California.

Dugrot told the U.S. Press Freedom Tracker that she was documenting interactions between Los Angeles Police Department officers, demonstrators and members of the press when she and other journalists were blocked from entering part of the protest.

When Dugrot told an officer she needed access for reporting purposes, the officer warned her that she could get shot with a crowd-control munition as a result, she said.

“I said, ‘No sir, that’s not what I want, obviously, but that’s my job,’” she recounted to the Tracker. “And I went in there, and then they shot me with the BB pellet.”

Dugrot said she was struck in the back of her thigh with the projectile, but it was unclear if she was deliberately targeted.

California state law bars law enforcement officers from firing such munitions at clearly identified members of the press or obstructing journalists covering protests.

At the same protest, Dugrot said she was also kettled — a tactic used to surround and control protesters — and then detained by officers who restrained her with zip ties and ordered her to face a wall.

“They took all of my belongings out of my pocket, and they patted me down, and they took my clips out of my hair. They took everything off of me,” Dugrot said. “They zip-tied me and told me I would be going to jail because I didn’t leave.”

When she identified herself as press, an officer demanded additional proof. Dugrot said she showed the officer a video of her work on YouTube, after which she was released.

When reached for comment, the LAPD directed the Tracker to the department’s social media accounts. In a June 15 statement posted to social platform X, the department acknowledged that LAPD officers used numerous “less-lethal rounds” and made arrests related to protest activity when responding to the demonstrations.

The statement did not address the detainment of media members or use of munitions against identifiable press.

At a similar “No Kings” protest in LA in October, Dugrot was also shot in the legs with projectiles fired by LAPD officers.