2 days ago
'LA rioter' instantly stops acting the big man after being caught by cops in dramatic new video
An alleged LA rioter with cowered with fear as he was arrested by federal agents in a dramatic stand-off.
Christian Cerna-Camacho was apprehended Wednesday morning by federal agents who rammed their vehicles into his car.
Newly released video of his arrest shows how he exited the vehicle with his hands up, visibly shaking as ICE agents pointed their weapons at his car.
Cerna-Camacho, who revealed he had 'two kids in my car' at the time of the collision, slowly walked towards police with his hands behind his head.
He was placed in handcuffs and searched as he, in a soft spoken tone, seemingly tried to plead with the agents and claimed he was not a criminal.
But one agent hit back and asked, 'you remember Saturday?', referring to the day Cerna-Camacho allegedly assaulted an officer during a riot.
He admitted he remembered the incident, before saying how he was the victim of officers who 'put their hands on me'.
'Yes, I remember you when you pushed on me. You pushed me,' Cerna-Camacho said. 'Yes, I remember what happened. I know you guys put your hands on me first.'
ICE agents rammed into his car and pinned it between two unmarked vehicles on Wednesday in the 3700 block of Whittier Boulevard in LA's Boyle Heights neighborhood
The officer, however, did not show any sympathy for Cerna-Camacho and instead reminded him how he has video of the incident.
But the suspect, who also claimed to video, continued to plea: 'I was on a public road, man. I was on a public road. I was on a public road.
'I was on public property. I was in the middle of the street and you pushed me. You put your hands on me.'
The ICE officer remained unphazed by Cerna-Camacho's claims, reiterating once again how the alleged assault was caught on camera.
As he was dragged away from the scene, Cerna-Camacho commented on the damage to his vehicle: 'You guys are going to pay for that s***.'
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) released the new footage of Cerna-Camacho's arrest hours after video of agents ramming into his car and pinned it between two unmarked cars went viral on social media.
In dramatic clip, the suspect is seen turning onto the road in the 3700 block of Whittier Boulevard in LA's Boyle Heights neighborhood.
In just seconds, an unmarked light blue van car maneuvers in front while another boxes the vehicle in from behind.
Federal agents then exited the vehicle with guns drawn and appeared to release tear gas as they attempted to make an arrest.
As the video circulated online, social media users unleashed a wave of unsubstantiated theories including that ICE agents were involved in a hit-and-run.
DHS released a statement explaining the operation was a 'targeted arrest' of a man described as a 'violent rioter who punched a CBP officer'.
'This was no hit and run. This was a targeted arrest of a violent rioter who PUNCHED a CBP officer,' DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin wrote in a statement on X.
'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.'
Cerna-Camacho was in the vehicle with a woman passenger, a toddler, and a baby in the backseat when the two cars pinned the vehicle, the Los Angeles Police Department told local ABC affiliate, KABC.
The woman was identified as his wife and was seen in other videos in a heated confrontation with officers as protesters gathered at the scene.
Cerna-Camacho was in the vehicle with a woman passenger, a toddler, and a baby in the backseat when the two cars pinned the vehicle. His wife is pictured leaving the shop with their toddler aged son after the incident
The LAPD added the incident was being investigated as a possible assault with a deadly weapon involving federal agents.
'Our officers are facing a 413 percent increase in assaults against them as they put their lives on the line to arrest murders, rapists, and gang members,' DHS said in a statement.
'Secretary Noem's message to the LA rioters is clear: you 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.'
Witnesses told that a smoke device was dispersed during the altercation.
An employee at a nearby grocery store told the Los Angeles Times after Cerna-Camacho's arrest, his wife and children went to the business for almost three hours before family picked them up.
Jesus Trujillo, told KABC, that he was a friend of the family and said Cerno-Camacho is an American citizen. DHS also confirmed his citizenship.
Community activist Verita Topete echoed a similar claim, questioning why DHS agents arrested the man.
'We saw her with one of her hands up and her toddler child in the other hand,' Topete said of his wife.
She added: 'He was crying and the mother was in a lot of distress. She was frantic, she was in distress.'
DHS said Cerno-Camacho was arrested and taken into custody, but it's unclear where he's being held and how long he was detained.
