the police formed a perimeter around the arresting officers as the crowd grew more hostile, leading to further altercations and arrests (including that of damian williams' older brother, mark jackson). one member of the crowd stole the flashlight of an lapd officer. fearing police would resort to deadly force to repel the growing crowd, lieutenant moulin ordered officers out of the area altogether. moulin later said that officers on the scene were outnumbered and unprepared to handle the situation because their riot equipment was stored at the police academy.