Multiple people were arrested after local and federal law enforcement agents descended upon L.A.’s MacArthur Park to carry out a nighttime narcotics enforcement operation.

Officers from the Los Angeles Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) descended on the park at around 9 p.m.

Among the personnel who arrived at the scene was First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli, who joined authorities in overseeing the operation.

In a statement, LAPD said officers were “assisting our federal partners in a joint narcotics enforcement operation in the MacArthur Park area. This operation is focused solely on drug-related criminal activity. There is no connection to immigration enforcement.”

More than 100 law enforcement members were involved, including around 60 DEA agents and 55 LAPD officers. As officers converged on the park, many people were seen running away.

Six people were eventually taken into custody for felony drug charges.

Officials told KTLA’s Jillian Smukler that they intentionally waited until nightfall after frustrated business owners said that most of the visible drug activity occurred at night, following previous raids that took place much earlier in the day.

“We’ve been hearing that a lot of stuff has been moving to later in the day, so that’s why we’re coming out later in full force to show them that this is not a joke,” said Anthony Chrysanthis, a DEA spokesperson. “We are taking the park back for the people. This will happen. It’s going to take time, but it will happen.”

DEA agents are supporting LAPD efforts as part of a long-term strategy to eradicate a troubling increase in drug activity at MacArthur Park.

Authorities had targeted the park multiple times in the past for narcotics-related operations. 

The latest incident occurred on June 4 as officers carried out a mission named “Operation Free MacArthur Park,” which involved serving arrest and search warrants in the area surrounding the park. Thirteen people were arrested for various offenses and officers recovered drug paraphernalia during the operation.

L.A. County District Attorney Nathan Hochman said at the time that authorities were targeting the demand side of the drug trade, going after small-time drug dealers and the drug addicts who are using every day.

“I refuse to allow MacArthur Park to be a cemetery, and that’s what it’s been,” Hochman said. “Because we’ve had individual after individual after individual die of drug overdoses, so much so that the local fire department spends much more time trying to revive people with Narcan who are on death’s door than they do putting out fires in this area.”

Authorities told KTLA they will maintain a presence at the park and work to eliminate all drug activity, allowing the park to be a safe place for residents and visitors.

“We remain committed to keeping our communities safe and informed as this operation continues,” LAPD said.

A California raisin company has publicly denounced alleged antisemitic and racist conduct attributed to one of its heirs following his recent arrest in Pacific Palisades.

In a statement released Wednesday, Fresno County-based Lion Raisins said recent reports involving Bruce Lion, who was arrested last week on suspicion of making criminal threats, “do not reflect the values of Lion Raisins.”

“Recent reports about the conduct of Bruce Lion are deeply troubling and do not reflect the values of Lion Raisins,” a company spokesperson said in the statement. “We unequivocally condemn antisemitism, racism, and all forms of hate, discrimination, and intolerance.”

The statement comes days after Bruce Lion, 64, was arrested following allegations that he repeatedly directed antisemitic and racist remarks toward a rabbi neighbor in Pacific Palisades.

As previously reported, Rabbi Zushe Cunin accused Lion of harassing him and members of his congregation for months after Lion purchased a neighboring home earlier this year. Published reports cited videos that allegedly showed Lion shouting antisemitic slurs from his property and disrupting religious gatherings.

Lion Raisins emphasized Wednesday that Bruce Lion “does not actively participate in the company’s day-to-day operations.”

The company, which has operated for more than a century, said it remains committed to serving a diverse community of employees, growers, customers and business partners “with respect, dignity, and inclusiveness.”

“These principles are core to our culture and to the way we do business,” the statement said.

The company also said it recognizes concerns generated by the allegations and expressed support for those who may have been affected.

“We remain committed to fostering understanding and respect among all communities and to ethical conduct, mutual respect, and responsible corporate citizenship,” the statement continued.

Bruce Lion was arrested early Saturday and booked on suspicion of making criminal threats, according to law enforcement records.

The investigation remains ongoing.

Residents of an Encino neighborhood said a home reportedly being used to create adult content has brought chaos and disruptive activity to their quiet street.

The home is located on Weddington Street in an upscale area of the San Fernando Valley. 

Neighbors described the home as a hotspot for raging parties and constant visitors. Authorities have also been reportedly called to the home before.

“We’ve seen scantily clad women, almost half-naked,” a neighbor told KTLA’s Chris Wolfe. “People smoking marijuana in front of our home. We’ve seen disruptions. There have been parties.”

In a recent incident, Los Angeles Police Department officers responded to the house for a “swatting” incident, which is a hoax that involves someone reporting a false emergency to 911 to induce a large police presence.

Some neighbors accused the homeowner of creating unsavory content at the home, saying some of the company’s clients also reportedly model for the paid subscription platform OnlyFans, which can feature explicit sexual content.

Other neighbors complained about the home allegedly operating as a full-blown business on a quiet street filled with young families.

“We don’t care what content is being made,” one neighbor said. “You can’t start a production studio in a residential neighborhood.”

Residing at the home is Andy Bachman, CEO of a company called Creators Inc. One of the company’s logos can be seen prominently displayed on a large window.

“I work with modern digital entrepreneurs building audiences’ brands, products and businesses across all different platforms,” he told KTLA’s Chris Wolfe.

Bahcman denies his neighbors’ allegations, saying that his property is not being used as a backdrop for explicit adult material. He believes some of his neighbors are jumping to conclusions.

“I mean, everyone’s got rights to raise concerns and what I would hope is that those concerns are just based on facts rather than assumptions about an industry that they may not fully understand,” he said.

Although many neighbors have raised concerns, some tell KTLA they have no issue with the homeowner or any reported activity at the property. 

Frustrated residents who have reported the home to city officials claim they were told that the home violates zoning laws, but no action against the homeowner has been taken.