Off duty police officer Anaheim

According to the New York Post, the protests were sparked after a video that was filmed earlier in the week emerged showing the confrontation between the off-duty LAPD cop and a large gang of teenagers who he had apparently accused of walking on his lawn.

The confrontation ends with the policeman pulling his gun out and firing a shot that did not hit anyone as the teenagers flee.

The nine-minute video, which was posted on YouTube, shows the officer tugging on a 13-year-old boy as he tries to detain him on a residential street in Anaheim.

The off-duty policeman clashes with a teenager. Picture: YouTubeSource:Supplied

The man was reportedly angry a group of teenagers walked on his lawn. Picture: YouTubeSource:Supplied

At one point, one of the teenagers runs into the policeman, causing him to fall backward over a bush. Another boy steps in and appears to attempt to strike the cop.

The officer is still holding on to the 13-year-old and trying to pull him over the hedge when he takes out his gun. Moments later, a single shot rings out.

The man grapples with a boy. Picture: YouTubeSource:Supplied

The clash between the off-duty policeman and a group of teenagers turned violent. Picture: YouTubeSource:Supplied

No one was injured by the gunfire, but Los Angeles police are investigating the incident. Two of the kids were arrested, the 13-year-old for allegedly making criminal threats and battery, and a 15-year-old for assault and battery.

Police told the Los Angeles Times that the 13-year-old allegedly threatened to shoot the off-duty policeman.

Protesters took to the streets of Anaheim over the incident. Picture: TwitterSource:Supplied

In mobile phone footage, the 13-year-old appears to insist that he told the policeman he was going to “sue” him, not shoot him.

The off-duty officer has not been arrested, and police say he is co-operating with the investigation, according to the newspaper.

Locals took to the streets of Anaheim to protest the incident. Picture: Joshua Sudock/The Orange County Register via APSource:AP

“The confrontation began over ongoing issues with juveniles walking across the officer’s property,” Anaheim police said in statement.

The department added in a Facebook statement that the “videos posted online do not depict the entire event.”

“We have received reports of planned protests,” Anaheim police wrote. “Peaceful protests in accordance with the law are perfectly acceptable. Acts of violence or vandalism will not be tolerated.”

Protesters march towards the off-duty policeman’s home in Anaheim, where the incident occurred. Picture: Joshua Sudock/The Orange County Register via APSource:AP

This story originally appeared in the New York Post