ANAHEIM POLICE SHOOT RUBBER BULLETS & RELEASE A POLICE DOG ON PROTESTERS!

Officers responded with rubber bullets to a protest that began after a police-involved shooting left a man dead in Anaheim, Calif., Saturday. A police dog also ran into the crowd.

The Anaheim Police Department said Sunday it was investigating both events surrounding the protest and the police-involved shooting. Residents and community activists called for a Sunday afternoon protest.

The incident started around 4 p.m. Saturday after two patrol officers tried to approach three men in an alley, The Orange County Register reported.

It was unclear why the officers stopped the men, who then ran, according to Sgt. Bob Dunn. Police pursued them to the front of an apartment complex.

"At that time the officer-involved shooting occurred," Dunn said.

It also remained unclear why the officer opened fire on the man, who was identified by family members as Manuel Diaz. Anaheim authorities have not confirmed his identity.

As police were investigating the shooting, a crowd of residents gathered and began throwing rocks and bottles, officers said.

The situation quickly escalated, and video shot by CBS affiliate KCAL9 shows dozens of people, some sitting on the apartment building’s lawn, being swarmed by protesters and police firing non-lethal rounds of beanbags and pepper balls.

At one point, a police dog gets free of its handler and was seen running through the crowd, past a baby stroller, and biting a man on the arm.

Dunn said the police dog was “deployed accidentally.”

About five hours after the shooting, an Anaheim police helicopter was still hovering above the crowd while officers brandished batons and other weapons in an attempt to restore order.

Yesenia Rojas, a 34-year-old woman who lives in the neighborhood, said it was her stroller that was nearly toppled by the police dog. She also said she was hit with one of the non-lethal rounds.

She said residents are demanding answers from Anaheim Police Chief John Welter.

"We were all waiting for him to come and talk to the community and give us an explanation. Why kill this man?"

Three people were detained after the melee, but it was unclear if they were arrested, according to Sgt. Dunn.

The Anaheim Police Department has been under scrutiny for several recent officer-involved shootings, and an independent review board was charged last month with looking at allegations of excessive force.

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