LOS ANGELES – A former Los Angeles Police Department detective who was on the force during the 1992 Rodney King riots said that Democrat Mayor Karen Bass was too late in calling for law and order to be restored as riots broke out in the city this week.

President Donald Trump deployed the National Guard to Los Angeles as anti-ICE violence escalated over the weekend, prompting pushback from Democrat California Gov. Gavin Newsom. On Monday, the U.S. Northern Command announced that 700 Marines would be sent to the greater Los Angeles area to help protect federal property and agents.

LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell said on Tuesday his department made 197 arrests, with 130 of those occurring near Commercial and Alameda, and the other 67 occurring after protesters occupied the 101 freeway. The LAPD said it arrested 96 people overnight Monday during protests in the downtown area.

Charges included assault with a deadly weapon on a police officer, failure to disperse and looting and arson. One person was arrested for attempted murder with a Molotov cocktail.

A demonstrator waves an American and Mexican flag during a protest in Compton, Calif., Saturday, June 7, 2025, after federal immigration authorities conducted operations.  (AP Photo/Ethan Swope)

“I believe that both sides, the president, Governor Newsom, are using the media waves to attack one another,” Castillo said. “To me, that’s like going back to high school, really. I think they wanted to do is come to the table. Let’s have a face-to-face, let’s have a meeting, let’s hash out the issues, and let’s find solutions.”

Police officers stand amid tear gas during a protest against federal immigration sweeps in downtown Los Angeles, California, U.S. June 8, 2025. REUTERS/Daniel Cole (REUTERS/Daniel Cole)

Police officers are enveloped in a cloud of smoke from tear gas and percussion grenades while guarding a highway onramp during a protest against federal immigration sweeps in downtown Los Angeles, California, U.S. June 8, 2025. (REUTERS/Omar Younis)

“They’re not united in this front,” he added.

Castillo recalled being an LAPD trainee during the Rodney King race riots in 1992, and said “History is repeating itself.”

Los Angeles County Sheriff’s deputies watch over demonstrators on a street covered in spent “less lethal” munitions, during a protest against federal immigration sweeps in downtown Los Angeles, California, U.S. June 8, 2025. (REUTERS/Barbara Davidson)

“Here, people are upset about the immigration policies of this current White House administration and the difference also being is we’re in a time where social media is instant. Images are going up there, so it’s easy to get the word out and get people down to come in and create chaos,” Castillo said.

“History is repeating itself, and this time we’re dealing with a lot of violence against police officers. They’re throwing bottles of cocktails, they’re throwing cinder blocks, you name it.”

Fox News Digital’s Greg Wehner and Louis Casiano contributed to this report.