Man charged after throwing books onto 101 Freeway during LA immigration protest

Martin Richard Torres, a 42-year-old man from Los Angeles, has been charged with felony offenses for allegedly throwing books at vehicles during an immigration protest on February 3. Prosecutors allege that he climbed onto a freeway sign near the 101 Freeway and threw two books at passing cars, with one book reportedly striking a vehicle. Torres is also accused of vandalizing the sign, leading to charges of throwing an object at a vehicle with intent to cause great bodily injury and felony vandalism exceeding $400 in damages. Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman emphasized that while peaceful protests are a right, actions that endanger lives will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. If convicted, Torres could face up to seven years and four months in prison, with bail set at $775,000. Hochman expressed concern over the potential for criminal behavior during protests, highlighting the need for accountability.