Federal agents crash into vehicle, take man into custody in dramatic Boyle Heights arrest
Federal agents rammed and trapped a white sedan in Boyle Heights on Wednesday that contained a man, woman and child. Agents extracted the man, who was driving, before leaving behind the woman and child.
The Los Angeles Police Department responded to the scene to investigate the traffic collision, said Officer Tony Im, a department spokesperson. He referred all other inquiries to the Department of Homeland Security.
The agency addressed the incident through a social media post Wednesday afternoon.
"This was no hit and run. This was a targeted arrest of a violent rioter who punched a CBP officer," the department posted on X, referring to Customs and Border Patrol. "When Homeland Security Investigations tried to arrest Christian Damian Cerno-Camacho for the assault, he attempted to flee. He was ultimately arrested and taken into custody."
Authorities said the woman declined medical treatment after officers responded to the 3700 block of Whittier Boulevard on Wednesday morning.
Video of the incident showed two sports utility vehicles trapping the Mercedes as it turned right, with the second vehicle pushing its bumper into the sedan before federal agents jumped out with guns drawn.
Once the car was stopped and agents exited their vehicles, it appeared that some sort of chemical rounds were fired at the car, video showed. The driver then exited and went to the rear of one of the agent's vehicles and was taken into custody.
Homeland Security said that officers were facing a dramatic spike in "assaults against them" and were risking their lives for the arrest of "murders, rapists, and gang members."
"Secretary [Kristi] Noem's message to the LA rioters is clear," the post continued. "[Y]ou will not stop us or slow us down. ICE and our federal law enforcement partners will continue to enforce the law. And if you lay a hand on a law enforcement officer, you will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law."
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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
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