World Cup / U.S.A. 1994 : Defeat Casts a Shadow : More Than 2 Dozen People Are Arrested in Huntington Park After Mexico’s World Cup Loss

Mexican flags waved briskly in the crowded aisle between the watermelon juice and pork rind counters. Young and old dressed in red, green and white bit their nails and stared at a big-screen TV perched high on a wall above several dangling pinatas.

And then, as a dramatic overtime shootout played out, the eager anticipation of more than 150 Mexican World Cup fans at El Gallo Giro restaurant in Huntington Park turned into bittersweet disappointment as their team was bested by Bulgaria on Tuesday afternoon.

“A game is a game and someone has to lose,” sighed delivery driver Richard Gallegos, 22, a Mexican flag draped over his shoulders. “Our team played well. They played as well as they could.”

In Los Angeles County, about one in three people are of Mexican descent and they--especially the ones born south of the border--constitute the region’s largest segment of soccer fans.

In recent days, Huntington Park had become ground zero for the World Cup exuberance--and in some cases, over-exuberance--of Mexican team fans.

Last week, after Mexico’s 1-1 tie with Italy ensured the team’s entry into the tournament’s second round, police arrested 17 celebrants, hurled pepper spray and closed off vehicular traffic on Pacific Boulevard, the center of Huntington Park’s business district.

On Tuesday night, despite Mexico’s loss and another round of cautionary street closures, 27 more people were arrested in a series of brief but potent street skirmishes. Fearful of violence after Tuesday’s game, police had closed off Pacific Boulevard to vehicles early in the morning and ordered pedestrians off the street in midafternoon. Their concerns were realized when they reopened it about 7:15 p.m.

Almost immediately, the intersection of Pacific and Florence Avenue became gridlocked with honking cars and about 150 screaming, flag-waving fans who began heaving rocks and bottles as police arrived to restore calm, said Huntington Park Police Lt. Steve Peeler.

Peeler said the street was reclosed within 15 minutes. Huntington Park police arrested six juveniles and nine adults, while sheriff’s deputies booked a dozen other offenders. Charges included assault with a deadly weapon, public drunkenness, disturbing the peace and throwing an object at a moving vehicle, Peeler said.

The adults were being held Tuesday night at Los Angeles County Jail, while the juveniles were released to their parents’ custody.

It was because police had been fearful of such an incident that Huntington Park was virtually shut down for most of the day.

One of the few public spots available to watch the game was El Gallo Giro, a popular fast-food emporium at Pacific and Florence Avenue, at the south end of the barricades.

“All the people here love Mexico,” said Pedro J. Matar, director of sales and marketing for the restaurant. “And they know we’re part of Mexico, so they won’t bother us. They’ll protect us.”

As the game played out on the TV inside the eatery, several police officers milled about outside. The wide boulevard was so deserted that one could fire a cannon and hit nothing but asphalt.

“What gives, man? It looks like a ghost town. It’s too quiet here. It’s like ‘Gunsmoke,’ ” said Pomona resident Eddie Garnica, who was visiting his sister in downtown Huntington Park. “I was born and raised in this town and it feels kind of creepy today, really.”

After the game concluded, more than 100 riot-geared officers appeared on the scene in a display of force.

Several business owners were perturbed by the police crackdown along Pacific, saying their businesses were unduly suffering because of the street closure.

“I don’t understand why the police had to close down this street,” said Rosa Luna, co-owner of three maternity clothing stores along Pacific. “People just want to celebrate. They’re not going to make any trouble. We’re losing a lot of business and we had to send six workers home, so they can’t get paid today.”

Several in a small crowd at Florence and Pacific also expressed resentment at the heavy police presence earlier in the day.

“People aren’t happy that the police are out there like that,” said Freddy Gonzalez, 35, as he hoisted a Mexican flag at the corner of Pacific and Florence.

The crowd, which numbered no more than 100 people, waved flags and spoke with resignation about their loss.

“We lost, but we’re proud of our team,” shouted Javier Medina, 25. “We played well and we showed we have a lot of heart. We’ll be back next time.”

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