L.A. protester, 40, wanted by FBI for assault on federal officer identified
Investigators have identified a man placed on the FBI's Most Wanted list after he reportedly assaulted a federal officer during protests that turned violent Saturday in Los Angeles County.
Federal officials allege 40-year-old Compton resident Elpidio Reyna 'injured a federal officer' and damaged government property while throwing rocks at law enforcement at around 3:30 p.m. in the 6400 block of Alondra Boulevard in Paramount on June 7.
Protesting an ICE raid that occurred in the city, the demonstrations grew violent as the afternoon wore on.
'As deputies arrived, it appeared that federal law enforcement officers were in the area, and that members of the public were gathering to protest,' LASD said.
Authorities did not provide any information on the extent of the officer's injuries, nor did they say how much damage was caused to federal vehicles.
L.A. driver goes on high-speed rampage amid violent downtown protests
In photos of Reyna released by federal authorities, the 40-year-old is seen wearing a Lakers hat with a mask covering much of his face. He is also seen wearing what appears to be a motorcross helmet, holding what appears to be a Mexican flag and, in another photo, tossing items on an improvised bonfire in the middle of the roadway.
In video of the incident, the 40-year-old is reportedly seen on the side of the street launching something as passing federal vehicles.
'Elpidio Reyna can, but he can't hide,' U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli said in a post to X. 'He threw rocks at federal officers leaving a command post, a brazen attack caught on film and that could have resulted in deaths.'
Authorities say Reyna should be 'considered armed and dangerous' and are offering up to a $50,000 reward for information leading to his arrest and conviction.
Anyone with information on this case is asked to contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324). To remain anonymous, submit a tip online at tips.fbi.gov.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CBS News
11 minutes ago
- CBS News
Dallas Police Chief Daniel Comeaux clarifies immigration stance amid criticism
Dallas Police Chief Daniel Comeaux is taking on criticism following comments made during a recent interview about his department's stance on immigration enforcement. It was last week that Comeaux was seen and heard on a Fox News interview saying, "Pick another city. Don't come to Dallas, you are not welcome." While he was asked about immigration enforcement earlier in the interview, he said those words weren't aimed directly at immigrants in the country illegally, as many were led to believe. During a news conference late last week, the city's top cop addressed those comments. "That message is for all the felon warrants out there," said Comeaux. "That's who that message was to." He clarified his stance on immigration and working with federal law enforcement partners. "Our stance hasn't changed since I've been here," Comeaux said. "I've said the exact same thing every time about immigration. We're going to do the right thing. We're going to do our jobs, and we will not be searching for immigrants. We have no special programs where we are searching for immigrants." He did say Dallas police would be willing to assist all federal agencies that request help, including immigration authorities. "If DEA, FBI, ATF, HSI, ERO needs our assistance as a law enforcement partner, we will be there to help them," said Comeaux. It's the same stance that has been taken with previous Dallas police chiefs. Former interim Dallas police chief emphasized community with immigration enforcement policy In February, then-interim chief Michael Igo highlighted the importance of trust between law enforcement and the community for public safety, telling the community that officers will not inquire about immigration status unless necessary for specific investigations. "Trust between law enforcement and the communities we serve is essential to public safety," Igo said. "All persons should know that they should never hesitate to report crimes, seek help, or cooperate with police." He emphasized the department's priorities, including investigating crimes, responding to emergencies, reducing violent crimes, and protecting constitutional rights. He reiterated that Dallas PD will not participate in immigration enforcement efforts but will assist in the arrest of individuals wanted for criminal offenses, regardless of their immigration status. Igo also said that arrests and raids would not be carried out in churches, schools or hospitals, but said that illegal immigrants with outstanding warrants were at risk of deportation. Afterward, Attorney General Ken Paxton opened an investigation and issued a formal request for records concerning the Department's "refusal to comply with state and federal immigration laws." Trump's evolving immigration policies In January, Trump signed off on local law enforcement assisting Immigration and Customs Enforcement to enforce federal immigration laws. He also threatened to withhold federal funding from "sanctuary cities." As the Trump administration implements new strategies to reshape U.S. immigration policies, conditions for undocumented migrants, including those attending court hearings for legal status, have become more hostile, prompting some asylum-seekers to reconsider continuing their cases or to leave voluntarily. ICE agents arrest immigrants at Dallas courthouse At the Dallas federal courthouse and federal courthouses around the country, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents have been arresting immigrants who show up for their scheduled hearings. According to attorneys, this is part of a new tactic by the Trump administration to fast-track the removal of migrants who arrived in the U.S. in the past two years. With millions caught in the backlog, it can normally take years for those seeking relief to go through the immigration court process. Under the direction of the Department of Homeland Security, ICE attorneys are dropping cases against some migrants, removing their temporary protected status, and making them immediately eligible for arrest and deportation. This is happening during what's called a master calendar docket, a check-in early in the immigration case process. DHS defends immigration policy shift In an emailed statement to CBS News Texas, the Department of Homeland Security wrote: "Secretary Noem is reversing Biden's catch-and-release policy that allowed millions of unvetted illegal aliens to be let loose on American streets. This administration is once again implementing the rule of law. "Most aliens who illegally entered the United States within the past two years are subject to expedited removals. Biden ignored this legal fact and chose to release millions of illegal aliens, including violent criminals, into the country with a notice to appear before an immigration judge. ICE is now following the law and placing these illegal aliens in expedited removal, as they always should have been.
USA Today
13 minutes ago
- USA Today
New Jersey Democrat indicted over ICE facility altercation, calls charges 'political intimidation'
New Jersey Democrat indicted over ICE facility altercation, calls charges 'political intimidation' Show Caption Hide Caption Newark mayor Ras Baraka sues over arrest at ICE facility Newark mayor Ras Baraka announced he's suing two federal officials who he allege ordered his arrest at an ICE facility in New Jersey. Rep. LaMonica McIver, D-New Jersey, was indicted on three counts related to a confrontation with law enforcement last month at a Newark immigration detention center. Interim U.S. Attorney Alina Habba announced the indictment on June 10. "While people are free to express their views for or against particular policies, they must not do so in a manner that endangers law enforcement and the communities those officers serve," Habba said in a post on X. McIver was visiting the facility along with fellow Democratic Reps. Bonnie Watson Coleman and Rob Menendez. An altercation occurred after officers arrested Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, who attempted to join the trio in their visit. McIver is said to have then "slammed her forearms" into immigration officers, according to the criminal complaint against her. If convicted, she could face up to 17 years in prison for all three counts. Was it an overreaction? Trump deploys thousands of National Guard, Marines to Los Angeles The congresswoman has denied the accusations, saying they are unjustified. 'The facts of this case will prove I was simply doing my job and will expose these proceedings for what they are: a brazen attempt at political intimidation,' McIver said in a statement reacting to the indictment. Members of Congress, by law, can visit immigrant detention facilities unannounced. McIver's lawyer, Paul Fishman, who served as U.S. attorney in New Jersey during the Obama administration, said that the "legal process will expose this prosecution for what it truly is — political retaliation against a dedicated public servant who refuses to shy away from her oversight responsibilities." The indictment came the same day voters in New Jersey took to the polls to pick their Democratic and Republican nominees for governor. Baraka, whose arrest sparked McIver's standoff with officers, ran for the Democratic nomination but lost to Rep. Mikie Sherrill. Contributing: Sarah Wire, USA TODAY; Katie Sobko,
Yahoo
16 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Protesters clash with police as ICE raids surge across Phoenix metro area
Protesters and media gather in a Peoria neighborhood on June 10, 2025, as Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents raided a house near 69th Avenue and West North Lane. Photo by Gloria Rebecca Gomez | Arizona Mirror Tensions erupted between immigrant rights advocates and Peoria police officers on Tuesday, amid a surge in Immigration and Customs Enforcement activity across the Valley. Federal officials with Homeland Security Investigations, a division within ICE, descended on a Peoria neighborhood Tuesday morning. A neighbor told the Arizona Mirror they witnessed multiple agents use flash bangs and a battering ram to enter the house. Yasmeen Pitts O'Keefe, a spokesperson for HSI, said the case involved narcotics and human smuggling, and that one person was arrested on federal charges and another was turned over to immigration officials. Peoria Police Department vehicles blocked off both ends of the street and officers kept watch as protestors, drawn by social media alerts, lined the sidewalks nearby. A confrontation between Peoria PD and opponents led to one person being subdued with a Taser and arrested. Chantil Martinez, who has lived in nearby Glendale her whole life, said she sympathizes with local police officers who likely had no choice in their assignments. But she was quick to say that, while she has some level of trust in local police officers, that same trust doesn't extend to federal officials. The raids carried out by ICE agents, she said, are comparable to discriminatory arrests carried out in Nazi Germany. 'It's almost like knocking on the doors back in the day and saying: 'Are you a Jew?' It's not OK,' she said. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Another protester, Erika, told the Arizona Mirror that she heard about the presence of federal agents on her way back from a doctor's appointment via a Tiktok livestream, and drove to the area to offer her support. Her three children, ranging in ages from 1 to 16 years old, stood next to her on the sidewalk in the blistering, triple-digit heat. Erika, who was unwilling to give her last name because she feared retaliation, said she's been monitoring the Los Angeles ICE raids and she worries about the same happening in Arizona. 'We all have family members, or people we know, who would be affected,' she said. A spokesperson with the Peoria Police Department said the department only managed traffic control in the area while federal officials conducted a drug-related investigation, and that 'false narratives' about it being related to immigration enforcement led to the protest. Immigrant advocacy organizations in Phoenix have been on red alert in the wake of ICE's workplace raids in Los Angeles, which have seen more than 40 people detained, and the subsequent protests. The Trump administration has increasingly sought to ramp up deportations, with Homeland Security Advisor Stephen Miller pushing for 3,000 arrests a day. While enforcement actions in Phoenix have recently centered around migrants attending hearings at the city's immigration court, pro-immigrant groups were alarmed by information that ICE raids are expected to be conducted across the Phoenix metro area this week. That information appeared to bear out: Over just the past few days, ICE agents have been spotted in multiple locations across the Valley. And hours before the arrests in Peoria, three men in a truck carrying construction materials were detained at a gas station at 27th Avenue and Indian School Road, according to the Phoenix New Times. Roughly 50 protesters, including members from pro-immigrant groups, gathered to oppose the HSI operation in Peoria and were particularly critical of Peoria PD's presence. As the Trump administration's hostility towards undocumented people has reached new heights, scrutiny about the relationship between federal immigration officials and local law enforcement departments has increased. One protester yelled 'You're a traitor, you betrayed your community,' at a Peoria police officer, while another shouted, 'This isn't what our taxes are for!' into a bullhorn. Erika noted that she was upset about Peoria PD's collaboration, saying it gave her doubts about calling them for help in the future. 'It makes me have less trust in them now,' she said. 'It makes you question where to turn when you need help.' In a statement issued shortly after the protest ended, the Phoenix Police Department sought to distance itself from ICE's increased activity in the Valley while at the same time encouraging peaceful demonstrations. Donna Rossi, a spokeswoman for the department, said Phoenix PD is not involved in the federal government's recent enforcement actions. Rossi also acknowledged that the actions of federal immigration authorities can 'evoke fear or other strong emotions,' but urged protesters to express those emotions in peaceful ways. 'The Department fully recognizes and respects the constitutional rights of all to peaceably assemble and exercise free speech,' Rossi said in a written statement. 'We encourage all community members to express their views in a peaceful and lawful manner, and we remain committed to supporting safe and respectful demonstrations.' The Phoenix City Council is currently considering an initiative proposed by immigrant rights advocates for the Phoenix Police Department to stop working with ICE. According to reporting from the Arizona Republic, the majority of arrests in the metro area that end in deportations are conducted by Phoenix police. At one point during the protest, a scuffle broke out between police officers and the crowd. Three officers surrounded a protester, who ended up on the ground after officers deployed a Taser. The scene was chaotic, with some in the crowd converging on the officers as the detained protester was escorted to a police vehicle while other activists urged them to hang back. At least half of the group stayed apart from the altercation. In a video posted to social media, a water bottle can be seen flying past the police officers who surrounded the protester on the ground. At least one immigrant advocate, Clarissa Vela, the co-founder of the People First Project, was struck by a rock in her leg. 'This is what they want — they want us to be criminals,' Vela shouted through a bullhorn as she tried, unsuccessfully, to convince the crowd to calm down. According to a statement issued by the Peoria Police Department, an officer was intentionally blocked by two protesters and assaulted by another, who was then subdued and arrested. In a post on social media site X, formerly Twitter, Gov. Katie Hobbs criticized the alleged assault and said her office has directed the Arizona Department of Public Safety to ensure local law enforcement agencies have the support they need. 'I have directed @Arizona_DPS to reach out to local law enforcement to ensure needs are met and we maintain order in the community. The State of Arizona is prepared to assist the City of Peoria and any other local law enforcement entities with necessary resources to keep our communities safe,' she wrote. 'Violence is completely unacceptable, and I urge any protesters to remain peaceful.' Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell, too, denounced the incident. 'An attack on a police officer is never appropriate,' she said in a written statement. 'These men and women risk their own lives and safety to do the job we've asked them to do.' As law enforcement on the ground clashed with the crowd, a Department of Homeland Security Blackhawk helicopter circled above. The helicopter is primarily used by U.S. Customs and Border Protection where it has been flown for a variety of missions, including conducting security for the Super Bowl. The helicopter later landed at the Phoenix-Mesa Gateway airport, the operational headquarters for ICE Air and where deportation flights are taking place. The helicopter also circled the Arrowhead Towne Center in Glendale as well as the Peoria Sports Complex prior to making its way to the area near 69th Avenue and West North Lane. ***UPDATED: This story has been updated with additional information. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
