Live blogging from the Occupy LA encampment:

Photo by Benjamin Gottlieb

5:23 a.m. PST -- LAPD announced that they have closed the 1st and Spring intersection. They have ordered all protesters to stand on the curb. — BG

2:19 a.m. PST -- "We have elected not to arrest anyone now," LAPD PIO Andrew Smith. — BG

2 a.m. PST -- Seems like things are calming down. People are moving back to the park. Police have moved up from Broadway all the way to Spring Street and have built a barrier. — BG

1:41 a.m. PST -- National Lawyers Guild advising protesters to get off street, go back to the park. As are police and organizers, to avoid arrests. — DW

1:34 a.m. PST -- At least 50 officers in reserve at 2nd and Spring. Relatively calm at first police line near 1st Street. — BG

1 a.m. PST -- From a police truck, PIO Andrew Smith asks crowd to get out of intersection. Instead, they swarm the truck and block it. — BG

12:40 a.m. PST -- KTLA is reporting that the "LAPD is requesting that all media trucks parked on Main St north of 1st move south of 1st." — DW

12:25 a.m. PST -- A line of police cruisers has pulled up at Broadway and First Street. At least 50 officers strong in riot gear. Their goal is to push the protesters back toward Spring Street. — BG

12:19 a.m. PST -- KNBC reports LAPD has declared citywide tactical alert.  A police line is formed one block from occupied intersection. Crowd in the street is contained but for the moment being allowed to stay in street. Some protesters have left but crowd still estimated at more than 1,000.

12:15 a.m. PST -- KNBC reporter Angie Crouch tweets "CONFIRMED: LA MAYOR PRESS secretary Teddy Davis confirms there will be NO RAID tonight at Occupy LA. "— Dan Watson

(Photo by Ben Gottlieb)

11:56 p.m. PST -- Human wall at 1st and Spring. — BG

11:37 p.m. PST -- LAPD PIO Andrew Smith: "If people want to get arrested tonight, we will arrest them." I've talked to people in the crowd, and some have said they want to get arrested. — BG

11:28 p.m. PST -- LAPD commander Andrew Smith came over for a press swarm and it subsided. Protest organizers are also yelling at demonstrators to get back on the sidewalk. — BG

11:19 p.m. PST -- Protesters now blocking westbound traffic on 1st Street. Massive drum circle, dancing on the top of the bus stop. — BG

11:15 p.m. PST -- Live video from KNBC shows protesters beginning to block traffic in front of City Hall.

10:55 p.m. PST — Demonstrators are amassing at the southeast corner of City Hall Park, planning to block a police entrance. — BG

10:30 p.m. PST — According to Jim Lafferty, director of the National Lawyers Guild of Los Angeles: "I'd be surprised if people were arrested tomorrow. Tuesday or Wednesday, it's more likely." — BG

10:30 p.m. PST — From LAPD: LAPD told KCAL in an interview from Occupy LA that they are prepared to make hundreds of arrests tonight. — BG

9:45 p.m. PST — The ANSWER Coalition is here, dressed in black, black scarves over their faces and waving black flags. They were part of the reason violence erupted w/ the whole Miguel Jimenez riot/protest. — BG

9:40 p.m. PST — Timothy Morris of the LAPD puts the crowd estimate at "well over 1,000."
— Ben Gottlieb