Hollywood Blvd. at Highland Shut Down Due to Unruly Crowd

Editor's note: Hollywood Patch has been providing real-time updates to readers following the closure of Hollywood Boulevard due to a rowdy crowd. Scroll to the bottom of the story to begin with our initial reporting, then up to see how it all unfolded.

[ Update 11:04 p.m.] A representative from Insomniac, which organizes Electric Daisy Carnival events, an electronic music dance festival, emailed Hollywood Patch with a statement from Pasquale Rotella, chief executive officer of Insomniac. The group had organized the premiere at Grauman's Chinese Theatre tonight.

"Tonight’s premiere of the Electric Daisy Carnival Experience film was designed to highlight one of the largest and most prestigious electronic music festivals in the world. Unfortunately, a small group chose to disrupt the film’s premiere due to their mistaken belief that a “block party” with a popular artist was going to occur.

"I want to make clear that while this film showcased an Insomniac event, Insomniac had nothing to do with the supposed 'block party,' which was not a part of the premiere. The crowd issues that arose were a result of individuals responding to social media information, which mistakenly led them to believe they could see artists perform.

Despite the crowd's unruly behavior, while the movie premiere did take place, even I was unable to attend the premiere of a movie that I have worked tirelessly to produce.

Insomniac strongly believes in personal responsibility and hopes that anyone who didn’t comply with police orders is held accountable."

[Update 10:35 p.m.]  LAPD Officer Karen Rayner says that Hollywood Boulevard has been reopened as it appears the turmoil that began at Grauman's Chinese Theater is winding down, reported City News Service. There were two arrests for suspicion of felony vandalism, she says, and three police vehicles were damaged. No injuries were reported.

[Update 10:30 p.m.] YouTube video shows crowd outside Grauman's Chinese Theater where Electric Daisy Carnival Experience screening was being held—before LAPD moved in. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lhLeWrDm_FIƒ

[Update 10:25 p.m.] See photos from the scene by @tarawallis on Twitpic.

[Update 10:00 p.m] Here's the latest from City News Service:

An unruly crowd initially estimated at 1,000 people trying to attend a concert film screening at Grauman's Chinese Theater today threw rocks and bottles at police cars.

No immediate injuries or arrests were reported, said Officer Karen Rayner of the Los Angeles Police Department, although Fox11 reported that arrests were being made.

The disturbances began about 5:40 p.m. on Hollywood Boulevard, between Highland and Orange avenues, where the world premiere of an Electric Daisy Carnival film and an after-party hosted by DJ Kaskade were scheduled, Rayner said.

Police shot at the crowds with bean bags and fires were set by the crowds.

At about 9 p.m. Rayner said that police still had not gotten the upper hand and additional units were en route.

Insomniac Inc., the organizers of the movie screening, issued a statement saying they were "disappointed that a small group of people would try to mar a private documentary screening," the Los Angeles Times reported.

Supperclub LA, where a party was to be held after the screening, asked "for the safety of our community, do not come to Supperclub tonight.''

Hollywood Boulevard between Highland and Orange avenues was closed, Rayner said.

The Hollywood and Highland Metro Red Line station was closed and Hollywood Boulevard buses were detoured to Highland and La Brea avenues and Sunset Boulevard, Metro announced.

[Update 9:19 p.m] Supper Club Los Angeles is sending out Twitter and Facebook updates asking people without a ticket to Kaskade's show tonight not to show up. If you are not holding an authentic ticket, or have a confirmed VIP reservation, you will not be allowed access to supperclub.

[Update 9:00 p.m.] We've learned based on a Facebook page that the Electric Daisy Experience was scheduled to premiere at Grauman's Chinese Theatre tonight. It's not clear whether the screening went on as scheduled.

[Update 8:35 p.m.] KTLA-TV is reporting a police car was burned as the crowd refused to disperse.

[Update 8:11 p.m.] It appears that DJ Kaskade had announced an impromptu block party in front of Hollywood & Highland on his Twitter account Wednesday afternoon. A large crowd showed up and some in the crowd refused to leave when police shut down the event.

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It appears that Hollywood Boulevard at Highland Avenue is closed. There is a heavy police presence on scene.

We're told by a police officer in the LAPD's Hollywood Division that a large crowd became rowdy because of a canceled concert.

We're on scene and see officers are in riot gear. There are reports of people throwing rocks and bottles at officers. A police officer on scene says the closure may last up to three hours.

At one point a crowd was seen running from the side entrance of the Grauman's Chinese Theatre forecourt. People in the crowd running reported police were shooting rubber bullets and tear gas.

If you're hearing helicopters in the neighborhood, that's because several choppers are above Hollywood & Highland surveying the scene.

Stay tuned for more on this developing story.

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