LOS ANGELES — Two men were arrested Wednesday for allegedly breaking into a much-publicized abandoned luxury skyscraper in downtown Los Angeles that has been heavily covered in graffiti and even used by trespassers for base jumping.
A group of up to eight people reportedly broke into the Oceanwide Plaza property near the 1100 block of Figueroa Street late Tuesday night, and police surrounded the location.
Two men in their 20s were arrested about 8 a.m. Wednesday, according to the Los Angeles Police Department. Their names were not immediately available for release. Officers remained stationed around the unfinished skyscraper complex Wednesday morning, awaiting any other trespassers who might still be inside.
According to police, officer are unable to enter and search the entire building due to the dangerous conditions inside and the sheer size of the towers.
Officers have increased patrols around the complex for roughly a month, responding to the rash of graffiti and other vandalism. More than two dozen people have been arrested during that span for various offenses, but most of them are simply cited and released pending criminal charges.
“This is 14 on-duty officers that could be doing other things,” LAPD Capt. Raul Jovel told reporters outside the building Wednesday morning, discussing the resources being deployed around the building. “I think the mayor and the chief of police have said that they are doing everything they can to secure access to the building, put up a fence, look into security to have officers disconnect from this building. But right now, as you see, even with officers posted, we have individuals bent on coming in here and going inside this property. We’re trying to prevent that.”
The city recently installed new fencing around the property, which was abandoned by Chinese developers who went bankrupt before the project could be completed. The persistent issues with tagging and other crimes at the property have prompted the city to threaten legal action against the development company and spend money of its own to erect the fencing and increase security.
In addition to the vandalism — including bright graffiti on balconies as high as 20 stories in the air overlooking Crypto.com Arena — recent videos have circulated on the internet showing base jumpers plunging off the Oceanwide Plaza and then paragliding down to the street.
Earlier, the LAPD reported at least seven individuals had been arrested at the property on suspicion of vandalism, trespassing, burglary or other crimes.