Angry mostly Hispanic demonstrators hurled rocks, bottles and eggs at the local police station in the MacArthur Park area near downtown Los Angeles, according to an AFP photographer on the scene.
Those arrested were detained on charges including unlawful assembly and failing to disperse after the violence, said Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) officer Karen Rayner.
Protestors in LA burned mattresses and other rubbish
Los Angeles Police close 6th Street Tuesday, Sept. 7, 2010, in Los Angeles as protestors rally over the death of a Guatemalan immigrant killed by Los Angeles police Sunday, Sept. 5, 2010
A man holds up a Guatemala flag while asking a question at a community meeting in Los Angeles, Wednesday, Sept. 8, 2010. Los Angeles police Chief Charlie Beck has been greeted by boos, whistles and chants of 'justicia!' by an angry crowd at a community meeting intended to calm residents after the fatal police shooting of a knife-wielding man.
The black-clad riot police fired rubber bullets and non-lethal bean-bags to disperse the crowd. No protestors or police were injured, but one person was struck by a slingshot projectile, according to police.
About 300 people earlier blocked a nearby road junction, and police declared an unlawful assembly before moving in. On Monday night there were some 100 protestors.
The fresh unrest -- in a city where dozens of people died in race riots in 1992 after the notorious police beating of a young black man, Rodney King -- came hours after the Los Angeles police chief defended his officers.
Speaking a day after protestors burned mattresses and other rubbish Monday night, police chief Charlie Beck said the officers involved had been defending themselves in the shooting Sunday.
Thirty-seven year-old construction worker Manuel Jamines was shot dead after threatening a passer-by with a knife. He ignored orders from bicycle officers to drop his weapon, instead lunging at them, a spokesman said.
"He was ordered several times in English and Spanish to drop the knife, and failed to comply," said Beck.
"The suspect then raised the knife over his head and advanced on officers, at which time an officer-involved shooting occurred. The suspect fell to the ground where he was taken into custody without further incident."
Jamines was pronounced dead at the scene, he added.
The comments came after four people were arrested and a policeman injured in clashes with some 100 protestors late Monday.
Police maintained a "heavy" presence in the area Tuesday. Some 50 people held a peaceful vigil during the day, when the protest remained peaceful, before descending into violence in the evening.
Protestors insisted Jamines was drunk but not dangerous. "This guy didn't speak good English, he was just walking around," said Carlos Ortega, 27. "The police, they put him on the ground and shot him," he added.
The Los Angeles Times reports the officer who shot and killed a knife-wielding man has been involved in two previous shootings while on duty.
Los Angeles police Chief Charlie Beck voiced support for Officer Frank Hernandez in an interview Wednesday with the Times. Citing privacy laws, Beck would not discuss the past shootings or any details of Hernandez's personnel file. He told the Times that Hernandez's performance should not come under suspicion because of previous shootings.
Authorities say Manuel Jamines was threatening two women with a knife on Sunday and when confronted by three officers, ignored their orders to drop the weapon. Hernandez fired two rounds when Jamines allegedly lunged at him with the knife.
Los Angeles police Chief Charlie Beck, right, closes his eyes as Francisco Ortega, a human relations analyst, tries to calm the crowd during a community meeting in Los Angeles, Wednesday, Sept. 8, 2010. Los Angeles police Chief Charlie Beck has been greeted by boos, whistles and chants of 'justicia!' by an angry crowd at a community meeting intended to calm residents after the fatal police shooting of a knife-wielding man
People listen to Los Angeles police Chief Charlie Beck during a community meeting in Los Angeles, Wednesday, Sept. 8, 2010. Los Angeles police Chief Charlie Beck has been greeted by boos, whistles and chants of 'justicia!' by an angry crowd at a community meeting intended to calm residents after the fatal police shooting of a knife-wielding man.
Henry Cabrera, 24, yells during a community meeting in Los Angeles, Wednesday, Sept. 8, 2010. Los Angeles police Chief Charlie Beck has been greeted by boos, whistles and chants of 'justicia!' by an angry crowd at a community meeting intended to calm residents after the fatal police shooting of a knife-wielding man.
A man yells as he listens to Los Angeles police Chief Charlie Beck during a community meeting in Los Angeles, Wednesday, Sept. 8, 2010. Los Angeles police Chief Charlie Beck has been greeted by boos, whistles and chants of 'justicia!' by an angry crowd at a community meeting intended to calm residents after the fatal police shooting of a knife-wielding man.
Los Angeles police Chief Charlie Beck attends a community meeting in Los Angeles, Wednesday, Sept. 8, 2010. Los Angeles police Chief Charlie Beck has been greeted by boos, whistles and chants of 'justicia!' by an angry crowd at a community meeting intended to calm residents after the fatal police shooting of a knife-wielding man.
Los Angeles police officers respond by firing nonlethal foam projectiles toward apartment buildings rooftops, as protesters climbed atop and threw objects at officers below, after they had protested the death of a Guatemalan immigrant by Los Angeles Police officers on Tuesday, Sept. 7, 2010, in Los Angeles
Los Angeles police officers respond by firing nonlethal foam projectiles toward apartment buildings rooftops, as protesters climbed atop and threw objects at officers below, after they had protested the death of a Guatemalan immigrant by Los Angeles Police officers on Tuesday, Sept. 7, 2010, in Los Angeles.
Jamines was shot dead after threatening a passer-by with a knife
Los Angeles Police officers close 6th Street Tuesday, Sept. 7, 2010, as police confront protestors who rallied against the police over the death of a Guatemalan immigrant by Los Angeles police officers Sunday, Sept. 5, 2010.
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