UCLA Police Arrest 18-Year-Old for Attacking Protesters – NBC Los Angeles

UCLA police said they had made the first arrest after a group of instigators showed up on campus on May 1 and attacked the pro-Palestinian camp there.

Edan On, 18, was arrested and charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. On is not a student, faculty, or employee of UCLA.

Investigators said On threw a pole, seriously injuring at least one person. Investigators used images, surveillance cameras and cellphone videos from the night of the attack to identify the attackers.

Some students said they were glad that arrests were made, but still felt that law enforcement and UCLA officials could do more.

“I’m glad that action is finally being taken against these instigators, but at the same time, I don’t feel like UCLA PD or the UCLA administration has done anywhere near enough to prosecute the instigators,” said Isabella Crone-Baron, a UCLA student.

Another student shared that the video evidence may not tell the whole story and that On may have only been defending himself.

“He should be able to explain his side of the story. Maybe there’s more to it, maybe someone attacked him shortly before, we just don’t know,” said Jon Jenkins, a student in UCLA’s Senior Scholars program.

The arrest is just the latest development in another long week for the university.

On May 22, UCLA fired and reassigned its police chief, John Thomas, who had been criticized for his actions against police after violence broke out on campus.

On May 23, Treasury Secretary Gene Block faced difficult questions about the protests and violence during his testimony before a House committee.

According to Block, another camp formed on campus. This time, police responded much more quickly, breaking it up within hours of it forming.

On is being held on $30,000 bail.

While the investigation continues, investigators are asking anyone with information about the May 1 attacks to contact UCLA Police.