Surgery center workers who scuffled with ICE agents facing federal charges
To identify the workers, federal agents staked out the Los Angeles-area SCA Health Ontario Advanced Surgery Center for three days following the July 8 confrontation, in which masked, plainclothes ICE agents chased a suspected illegal immigrant into the building.
Federal officials on July 25 said Jose de Jesus Ortega and Danielle Davila have been charged with assaulting a federal officer and conspiracy to prevent by force and intimidation a federal officer from discharging his duties. Ortega was arrested on July 25, and authorities said they're still pursuing Davila.
The video, which went viral, shows two surgery center workers in scrubs yelling and blocking one of the agents from detaining the man.
Federal officials criticized what they said was a "false narrative" in the media and online that portrayed the detainee as a patient at the clinic. According to authorities, the ICE agents saw the truck stop outside the building, and when they approached the men, the men ran.
According to court records, the agents had no specific knowledge that the man who ran into the clinic was living in the country illegally, and had been following the truck in which he was riding as part of a "roving patrol" in their unmarked vehicle.
"The illegal alien arrested inside the surgery center was not a patient," United States Attorney Bill Essayli said in a statement. "He ran inside for cover and these defendants attempted to block his apprehension by assaulting our agents. It doesn't matter who you are or where you work, if you assault our agents or otherwise interfere with our operations, you will be arrested and charged with a federal crime."
In a July 9 social media post, Homeland Security officials said the man who agents were chasing is Honduran national Denis Guillen-Solis. They said he was living illegally in the United States.
"He ended up near the Ontario Advanced Surgical Center where hospital staff assaulted law enforcement and drug the officer and illegal alien into the facility," DHS said in the post. "Then, the staff attempted to obstruct the arrest by locking the door, blocking law enforcement vehicles from moving, and even called the cops claiming there was a 'kidnapping.'"
The video is among the latest examples of people delaying or obstructing ICE agents carrying out President Donald Trump's mass-immigration initiative, which has also sparked widespread protests. The identities of the two ICE agents involved in the surgery center detention were not released.
Federal officials say ICE agents are increasingly being assaulted or targeted by community members, which requires them to remain anonymous.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Feds charge surgery center workers recorded in scuffle with ICE agents
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
25 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Multiple shot, suspect dead in New York City building shooting
One person is dead and at least three others were injured in a shooting inside a Midtown Manhattan office building, according to the BBC's news partner CBS. A lone suspect has been "neutralized" in the shooting, according to New York City Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch, and the high-rise has been secured. The incident at 345 Park Avenue led to an intense police response in the centre of New York City Monday evening as those in the area hid in nearby buildings. A BBC journalist at the scene reported seeing scores of police vehicles and at least one person with a bloodied chest being taken away. It is unclear how or where they were injured. CBS reports two NYPD officers, who were off-duty but working as security in the building, and two civilians were shot. One officer has died in the incident and one of the civilians was listed in critical condition, sources told the network. Police have not confirmed that its officers were involved in the shooting or the reported death. The network reported the suspect is dead and had been armed with a rifle. Authorities had responded initially to a call about shots fired at the building, which houses many businesses including the National Football League (NFL) and the investment management company Blackstone. Police worked floor-by-floor to clear the building. The BBC saw a man near the scene being placed in handcuffs by police, though it's unclear whether he was involved in the incident. New York police urged the public to avoid the area. The FBI also was reporting to the scene. "FBI New York Field Office management personnel and agents are responding to provide support at the active crime scene in Manhattan," Dan Bongino, deputy director of the agency, said. A BBC journalist who was in the area around 18:45 reported seeing multiple police and fire vehicles, before seeing a man being wheeled away from the building on a stretcher. He had bandages on his chest. Bystanders at the scene reported hearing what sounded like gunshots and police told those in the area, including the BBC journalist, to shelter in nearby buildings. Mama Bouhenni, who was working at the nearby Sip & Scoop coffee shop as the incident unfolded, told the BBC she saw dozens of people from the surrounding buildings being evacuated. They held their hands above their heads, she said. Ms Bouhenni said she recognised many of them as her customers. "This is so terrifying for them, I hope they can go home safe."
Yahoo
25 minutes ago
- Yahoo
New York City Mayor Eric Adams provides update on shooting at Manhattan office tower
New York City Mayor Eric Adams provides update on shooting at Manhattan office tower Source: Mayor Eric Adams
Yahoo
25 minutes ago
- Yahoo
He heard 'he's got a knife,' then ran to stop a man suspected of stabbing 11 at a Michigan Walmart
Matthew Kolakowski was shopping for fishing gear and snacks with his daughter at a Michigan Walmart over the weekend when he heard an employee yelling 'he's got a knife' followed by sounds of screaming. Then he saw a man rushing toward the checkout counter. 'All of a sudden I see him pop up and I swear we locked eyes for a minute and I yelled at my daughter, 'Stay here.' So I just took off running,' Kolakowski said, recalling the moment he decided to confront the man accused of stabbing 11 people at the Traverse City store on Saturday. Bradford Gille was charged Monday with terrorism and 11 counts of attempted murder. Police said they had no apparent motive for the violent attack carried out with a 3 1/2 inch (nearly 9-centimeter) knife. The actions of Kolakowski and some other men drew effusive praise from Grand Traverse County Sheriff Michael Shea. Overnight, the strangers became online celebrities for their heroics as a video showing the confrontation spread swiftly on social media. Kolakowski said that as he followed the man out of the store, he saw him plunge his blade into an older woman outside. Having no weapon himself, Kolakowski grabbed a shopping cart, hoping to knock the man down as he gave chase. 'He just ran right behind her and buried his knife into her back, right in front of me,' Kolakowski said. 'He pulled the knife out of her and went to take off, then stopped and hesitated and turned around like he was going to go after her again. That's when he noticed me with the grocery cart ... I just went as hard as I could and just got him on his ankles with the grocery cart from behind.' Kolakowski, a 39-year-old disabled veteran, was quickly joined by another man with a shopping cart, stopping the man later identified by authorities as Gille. A third man pointed a gun toward the man, repeatedly demanding he drop the knife. He eventually put the knife down and Kolakowski said he jumped on the man, restraining him until police quickly arrived. 'Honestly, I didn't hesitate at all,' said Kolakowski, speaking from his home in nearby Kent City. Though he was wary of being stabbed himself, he said, 'I just kept going.' Shea said the 11 victims were men and women ranging in age from 29 to 84, including one Walmart employee. All were expected to survive, officials said. Authorities said Gille, 42, has a history of mental health problems and has been arrested or ticketed numerous times in the Petoskey, Michigan, area since 2001. He has also received jail sentences for assault and domestic violence-related offenses. In 2017, he was found not guilty by reason of insanity after being charged with damaging a burial vault and tipping over grave markers at a Ptoskey cemetery. And police in Petoskey reported speaking twice with Gille in recent days about loitering. In a statement Monday, the Petoskey Department of Public Safety said the agency sought and received a court order Friday to place Gille in protective custody, deeming him a risk to himself or others. But they could not find him — until the Traverse City stabbings occurred. Gille's mother told the Petoskey News-Review in 2007 that her son had been in a long-term cycle of mental illness. Beverly Gille at that time praised police and judges, whom she said were trying to help him. 'He's fine when he's on his medication,' she told the newspaper. 'The problem is his illness tells him that he is fine and doesn't need to take his medication.' At his arraignment Monday, Gille appeared agitated and seemed to suggest he was homeless. A not-guilty plea was entered for him, and bond was set at $100,000. Kolakowski said that as he and the other shoppers surrounded the man in the Walmart parking lot, it was clear that something was not right. He described the man as wild-eyed and sweating heavily and describing those in the store as 'bad, like he was making an excuse why he stabbed everybody." Kolakowski brother-in-law, Chris O'Brien, who recorded the video, said the 'crazy' scene unfolded incredibly fast and that Kolakowski's actions surely prevented several more stabbings. 'It's his courage that is the craziest part. It was something to witness,' he said. 'A guy was stabbing people and we were just next on his list if we didn't do something right,' O'Brien said. 'Matt was determined to make sure it was stopping then and there and he sure as hell did that.' ___ Associated Press reporters Ed White and Corey Williams contributed. Michael Casey, The Associated Press
