Chinese Consulate Security Guard Arrested in Los Angeles After Pepper-Spraying Protesters
LOS ANGELES — Police in Los Angeles arrested a security guard linked to the Chinese Consulate after he allegedly pepper-sprayed pro-democracy demonstrators gathered outside the diplomatic mission on Sunday afternoon, according to video footage and law enforcement accounts circulating online.
The incident erupted at roughly 3 p.m. on January 4, when a group of protesters had assembled on a public sidewalk near the Consulate-General of China to voice opposition to the Chinese Communist Party and support for democratic movements, according to eyewitness posts on X and Instagram.
Videos shared widely show a uniformed security guard deploying pepper spray directly into the crowd before officers from the Los Angeles Police Department arrived and detained him at the scene. A police spokesperson confirmed an arrest was made but has not yet released details on charges or the suspect’s identity.
Protest organizers and those present said several demonstrators experienced intense eye and respiratory irritation from the spray, with some reportedly treated at nearby facilities, though official medical records are not yet available.
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“This was an unjustified use of force on peaceful demonstrators and will be addressed under California law,” said an organizer at the scene, speaking on condition of anonymity.
The arrest highlights tensions around how private security working near diplomatic sites engages with First Amendment-protected protests on public property. Law enforcement now faces calls to clarify how foreign mission security contractors are regulated in U.S. jurisdictions.
Authorities are expected to release formal charges and a statement later this week as the case develops.
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