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California professor Jonathan Anthony Caravello arrested for allegedly tossing tear gas canister at ICE agents during raid on marijuana farm

California professor Jonathan Anthony Caravello arrested for allegedly tossing tear gas canister at ICE agents during raid on marijuana farm

New York Post15-07-2025
A California professor was arrested for allegedly chucking a tear gas canister at ICE agents during a raid on a marijuana farm being investigated for child labor violations.
Jonathan Anthony Caravello — a math and philosophy professor at California State University Channel Islands — was arrested by federal agents conducting a raid at Glass House Farms in Ventura County on Thursday, ABC 7 reported.
US Attorney Bill Essayli posted on X that Caravello was arrested for 'throwing a tear gas canister at law enforcement.'
5 Jonathan Anthony Caravello was arrested by federal agents conducting a raid at Glass House Farms in Ventura County on Thursday.
CSUCI
Essayli said Caravello was charged with 'a violation of 18 USC 111,' for allegedly 'assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers or employees,' according to federal law.
The US attorney also denied claims that the educator was 'kidnapped' by federal agents.
On Friday, the California Faculty Association shared that Caravello was 'kidnapped' by federal agents after protesters and law enforcement clashed during Thursday's raid.
The post claimed that '4 masked agents dragged Jonathan away into an unmarked reason without identifying themselves, without giving the reason for arrest, and without disclosing where they are taking him.'
However, a criminal complaint obtained by the Ojai Valley News revealed 'dozens of protestors attempt to obstruct the execution of the high-risk search warrant' near Glass House Farms.
The affidavit claims that Caravello was seen holding a 'megaphone' walking along the yellow police tape, 'loudly playing a siren sound' towards agents.
5 Tear gas billows from canisters thrown by federal agents towards protesters during an immigration raid on an agricultural facility in Camarillo, California, on July 10, 2025.
via REUTERS
Protestors then later began throwing 'rocks' at government vehicles, causing 'large-scale damage, including broken windows, broken side view mirrors, and frame damage to the vehicles.'
As the escalation continued, agents deployed tear gas among the protestors to disperse them. Caravello was allegedly caught on an agent's body camera footage attempting to 'kick the canister,' but missed.
'Caravello turned around, ran towards the canister, picked it up, and threw the canister overhand back at BP agents,' the complaint claims.
'A BP Agent reported that the canister was thrown at law enforcement and recalls that the canister came within approximately several feet above law enforcement's heads.'
5 A protester kneels in front of federal agents in a farm field during an immigration raid in Camarillo, Calif., Thursday, July 10, 2025.
AP
Caravello then allegedly left the scene, but about 'two hours later,' an individual matching his description returned wearing different clothes, according to the affidavit.
After determining he was the individual who threw the canister, two border patrol agents attempted to arrest him just before 6 p.m., according to the criminal complaint.
'As BP agents arrested Caravello, they placed him on his stomach on the ground. BP Agent R.C. gave Caravello verbal commands to give law enforcement officers his arms but Caravellowould not comply and attempted to grab a BP Agent's leg,' the complaint alleged.
'As BP Agent R.C. and other BP agents attempted to detain Caravello, Caravello continuously kicked his legs and refused to give the BP agents his arms.'
5 Federal immigration officials carrying out raids on two southern California cannabis farms clashed with protesters in Camarillo on July 10, 2025.
ALLISON DINNER/EPA/Shutterstock
Caravello has since been released from custody on $15,000 bail, with an arraignment set for Aug. 1.
California State University Channel Islands released a statement following his arrest, ABC 7 reported.
'At this time, it is our understanding that Professor Caravello was peacefully participating in a protest-an act protected under the First Amendment and a right guaranteed to all Americans. If confirmed, we stand with elected officials and community leaders calling for his immediate release,' the statement read.
'The California State University remains committed to the principles of free expression, academic freedom, and due process, and will continue to monitor the situation closely.'
Federal agents said they served a warrant on Glass House Farms after it was accused of hiring and harboring undocumented workers.
5 More than '500 rioters attempted to disrupt operations,' leading to 'four US citizens' being 'criminally processed for assaulting or resisting officers.'
ALLISON DINNER/EPA/Shutterstock
More than 350 undocumented workers were arrested in the raids at its locations in Carpinteria and Camarillo on Thursday, the Department of Homeland Security said in a statement.
Officials said that 'violent and dangerous criminals' were arrested during the operation, and 'as of July 13, at least 14 migrant children have been rescued from potential exploitation, forced labor, and human trafficking.'
Officials also said that 'more than 500 rioters attempted to disrupt operations,' leading to 'four US citizens' being 'criminally processed for assaulting or resisting officers.'
Glass House Farms is now facing alleged child labor law violations.
Glass House Brands stated in a press release that they complied with the federal warrants issued and 'never knowingly violated applicable hiring practices and does not and has never employed minors.'
with Post wires
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Fewer than half of ICE arrests under Trump are convicted criminals

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  • Yahoo

Fewer than half of ICE arrests under Trump are convicted criminals

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He lived an immigrant's nightmare. One problem: He's a citizen, got his arrest on video
He lived an immigrant's nightmare. One problem: He's a citizen, got his arrest on video

USA Today

time2 hours ago

  • USA Today

He lived an immigrant's nightmare. One problem: He's a citizen, got his arrest on video

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'That is not how you arrest people." 'Be quiet,' an officer said, cutting him off and picking him up. 'I've got the right to talk,' Laynez said. 'I was born and raised here.' 'You have no rights here. You are a 'Migo,' brother," the officer said in a comment Laynez said sounded like racial profiling. Laynez's mother can be heard crying in the background. Video records officers laughing at immigration arrest Laynez's phone continued recording on the sidewalk and captured a conversation between the agents over the next four minutes. 'Once she got the proper spread on him, he was done,' the officer said. "You're funny, bro.' 'It was funny,' an agent said, laughing. 'It was,' another chimed in with laughter. Another agent said more people are resisting their immigration arrests. "They are starting to resist now," an agent said. "We're going to end up shooting someone." On the video, an agent recounted how Laynez said they didn't have the right to come in the door and says: 'I already told you to come out. If you don't come out, I'll pull you out.' 'God damn. Wow,' the officer cheered. 'Nice!' 'Just remember you can smell too with a $30,000 bonus,' another officer chimes in. It was not immediately clear to what bonus the officer referred. On the tape, an officer is heard saying that Laynez's coworker was resisting arrest, so he should be charged. 'He was being a d*** right now. That is why we tased,' an agent said. The phone recording stopped shortly after that exchange, its memory out of storage. The agents confirmed Laynez's mother had legal status and issued her a ticket for driving with a suspended license. Laynez said she told them he was a U.S. citizen and showed them a picture of his Social Security card. They still took Laynez into custody. Laynez said that before leaving, the officers held his mother's driver's license to her face and tore it in half. U.S. citizen spent six hours in detention facility: What he saw Once at the Riviera Beach facility, Laynez said he saw rows of men. Most spoke Spanish and wore construction clothes like his own. Two looked like they were his age, 17 or 18. Laynez said he appeared to be the only one inside the packed room who spoke English. He said the men told them they had been detained for hours without water or food. Laynez wanted to use the bathroom, but the only toilet available was out in the open, without any doors or covers. After almost four hours, the female officer who detained them took Laynez to a room and asked for his date of birth three times, even though he had already written it down for another officer. Finally, she came out with a ziplocked bag with his phone, wallet and headphones. In Spanish, she asked him to unlock it. Laynez said she told him she needed to see if he had filmed videos of the arrest. Laynez said he unlocked his phone, closed all his apps and locked it again. He said he declined to open it and set it down on the table. He said she told him they would wait in that room until he opened it. She asked again for his date of birth. Laynez said he trembled. That was his password. Laynez said the officer threatened to press charges if he didn't unlock his phone, but then a person who appeared to be a supervisor interrupted them. Laynez said the supervisor said Laynez wasn't supposed to be in that room because he is a U.S. citizen. The supervisor took Laynez's fingerprints and said it was only to leave a record that he had been in the facility. Then he told Laynez he couldn't leave without signing some paperwork and that he would have to show up in court. "What did I do?' Laynez said he asked while signing. "I didn't do anything. Why do I have to present myself in court?' The arrest report said Laynez was being charged with nonviolent police obstruction. In a copy of the report that Laynez provided to The Palm Beach Post, officers wrote that Esdras had resisted his arrest. Laynez is not mentioned. After six hours, Laynez said he walked out the door of the Riviera Beach building and ordered an Uber home. He had almost 100 missed calls from his mother. Laynez said the footage of the arrests haunts him, but he doesn't regret filming. "I would basically have nothing, no evidence,' Laynez said. 'And no one would believe what happened or how they escalated the situation. "There might be even more happening that is not being recorded."

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