Extra patrols planned in Huntington Park for Mexico World Cup match

As Mexico and the Netherlands face off in their World Cup match in Brazil on Sunday morning, Los Angeles police and sheriff’s deputies plan to increase patrols in Huntington Park in preparation for a potential repeat of the unruly behavior that erupted last week when Mexico defeated Croatia.

A three-block stretch along Pacific Boulevard -- Huntington Park’s main business corridor -- was closed to traffic between Florence and Gage avenues at 9 a.m., the start time for the Round 16 match.

The closure was ordered out of concern for public safety because officials do not want anyone to get hurt or any businesses to be damaged by “exuberant” behavior, said Michael Chee, a spokesman for the Huntington Park Police Department.

UPDATE: Netherlands nets two late goals to stun Mexico, 2-1

Additional police and emergency response teams will be on call throughout Los Angeles County should crowds become unruly, said Nicole Nishida, a spokeswoman for the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. Mounted deputies also will be on patrol.

Large crowds are anticipated given the size of the Latino population in Huntington Park, Chee said.

“We know that there’s a lot of local excitement just based on the resident population,” Chee said.

Businesses will operate and streets will remain open to foot traffic during the street closure, Police Department officials said.

Police will reopen Pacific Boulevard as necessary, depending on crowd size and activity after the game, officials said.

On June 23, police on horseback, backed by officers clad in riot gear, arrested at least four people after crowds of fans spilled onto the streets in Huntington Park to celebrate Mexico’s 3-1 victory over Croatia.

One woman was arrested on suspicion of throwing a bottle at officers on horseback. Two others were arrested on suspicion of public intoxication, and another for failing to disperse, according to police. One woman received minor injuries in an incident involving an officer’s horse, police said.

Television news footage showed a man being wrestled to the ground and handcuffed by three Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department deputies.

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