Latest news with #EtelHaxhiaj
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
‘My baby!': Newly released body cam video shows new insight into Worcester ICE arrest
The City of Worcester is continuing to release more body camera footage from officers who were present at the chaotic Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrest on May 8 at Eureka Street. On May 16, eight days after the incident, the city released body camera footage from three officers who were called to Eureka Street, where ICE arrested Rosane Ferreira-De Oliveira of Brazil. New body camera footage from 10 other officers who were present on Eureka Street was posted to the city's YouTube page on June 4, June 26 and July 17. The city previously announced that it would release additional footage on a rolling basis. The video batches provide new angles of the incident, with more than 30 people shouting and confronting police officers and ICE agents at the scene. Footage from officers shows the protesters standing by a gold SUV where Ferreira-De Oliveira was placed by ICE agents. Several protesters can be heard chanting 'don't take the mother' while others ask ICE to show a warrant for the arrest. Among those protesting was District 5 Councilor Etel Haxhiaj. In footage from Officer Joseph Atchue's body camera, Haxhiaj can be seen approaching the SUV at the 1:27 mark. A federal agent then grabs her arm and moves her away from the car. Haxhiaj was charged with one misdemeanor count of assault and battery on a police officer and one common law violation for interfering with a police officer. She entered a not guilty plea in Worcester District Court on July 24 and was released on her own personal recognizance. A motion to dismiss hearing for her case is set for Sept. 15. Ferreira-De Oliveira's daughters, Augusta Clara Moura and an unnamed teenager, witnessed their mother being arrested that day. At the 8:55 minute mark of Atchue's footage, the teenager can be seen running up to a gold SUV leaving the area. ICE agents had previously placed Ferreira-De Oliveira inside the vehicle. The daughter runs up to the vehicle and appears to reach out to it on the passenger side door. A Worcester Police Officer and a masked man wearing a vest that reads 'Police ICE' on it move her away from the SUV, with someone yelling at the girl, 'you're going to get injured!' The girl then runs to the sidewalk, yelling, 'don't touch me!' At the 9:18 mark in Atchue's footage, the daughter is surrounded by several officers as she is placed under arrest. In separate footage from Officer Timothy Watts' camera, Augusta Clara Moura can be seen running to the arrest of her sister. At the six-minute mark, the adult daughter of Ferreira-De Oliveira can be seen screaming with her infant son in her arms. Yelling no, she reaches out an arm near the scene. The officer wearing the body camera appears to touch her arm. She then suddenly shouts 'my baby' while pointing a finger at the officer who touched her arm. As this is happening, another officer can be seen moving Clara Moura away from the arrest by putting their arms around her stomach and moving her out of the way. Bystanders can be heard yelling, 'don't touch the baby!' It is not clear whether the officer touched the baby. Clara Moura and her son have since moved back to Brazil to be with her partner, Samarone Alves Ferreira-De Souza. Ferreira-De Souza's lawyer said that ICE signed a document authorizing his deportation in his name without his permission. Chief of Police Paul Saucier announced on May 16 that the WPD requested the judge to dismiss the case against Ferreira-De Oliveira's daughter. It is not known whether the charges have been dismissed as of Monday. Footage from Officer Taylor Boucher shows the arrest of Ashley Spring, a disqualified school committee candidate who sprayed water from a baby bottle at an officer during the arrest of the teenager. The footage from Boucher shows Spring being handcuffed by officers. Boucher can be seen questioning Spring for their name and birthdate. Spring, who uses they/them pronouns, was charged on May 9 with a felony of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, which was in reality the baby bottle with water inside. Spring was also charged with a misdemeanor charge of assault and battery on a police officer, as well as disorderly conduct and interfering with police officers — charges that remain in effect. On July 23, the prosecution, represented by the Northwest District Attorney's office, put forward a motion in Worcester District Court to dismiss the dangerous weapon charge, saying it did not believe it could prove it. After consulting with Spring's attorney, Carl Williams, Judge Jennifer Ginsburg agreed to drop the charge. A motion to dismiss hearing was set for Sept. 25. In their initial report, the Worcester Police Department wrote that Spring directly pointed and sprayed an 'unknown liquid' at police officers as they were arresting the daughter of the detained Brazilian mother. In footage from body cameras worn by police officers at the scene, however, Officer Juan Vallejo stated that the liquid was, in fact, water. The videos can be found on the City of Worcester's YouTube page. More Worcester Stories Worcester school jobs saved as Trump admin releases education funding Kristian Campbell homers, extends hitting streak, but WooSox squander seven-run lead at St. Paul WooSox edge Saints 5-3 to stay perfect in series Read the original article on MassLive.
CBS News
05-06-2025
- Politics
- CBS News
Worcester city councilor charged with assaulting police during ICE operation
A Worcester city councilor has been charged with assaulting and interfering with police officers during a chaotic ICE operation in the city last month. District 5 Councilor Etel Haxhiaj can be seen in body camera video when crowds began swarming federal agents on Eureka Street on the morning of May 8. The crowd tried to stop ICE agents from taking a woman into custody. Two other people were arrested during the incident. According to the criminal complaint, Haxhiaj repeatedly identified herself as a Worcester city councilor and was observed "pulling the restraints of the arrested as they were being escorted to the transport vehicle." Police said Haxhiaj ignored requests to move away from the vehicle and allegedly pushed an officer away by striking them in the chest. A few minutes later, while another person was being arrested, Haxhiaj allegedly pulled the officer's arm. Haxhiaj has been charged with assault and battery on a police officer and interfering with a police officer. The President of the Worcester Police Patrolmen's Union told WBZ Haxhiaj was "inciting the crowd" and video showed "officers acted totally appropriately in a very difficult, chaotic situation." "Targeted and vilified" Haxhiaj released a statement saying she looks forward to responding to the charges in court. "Protecting the most vulnerable should not lead to being targeted and vilified," Haxhiaj said. "And working to improve policing in our city by calling for oversight and accountability should not provoke political grandstanding and attacks." Haxhiaj's arraignment is scheduled for July 23.
Yahoo
05-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Worcester City Councilor facing charges for alleged actions during ICE operation in May
A Worcester City councilor is facing charges for her alleged conduct during an federal immigration operation back in May. Police confirm that District 5 Councilor Etel Haxhiaj was charged following an ICE arrest on Eureka Street on May 8. Police did not specify what charges she's facing or when she will appear in court. In a statement, Haxhiaj said she tried to do the right thing. 'I am a mother, an immigrant and elected leader who attempted, along with other Worcester residents, to protect a traumatized young person, two mothers and an infant,' she said. 'I did the humane thing to do in this situation, nothing more, nothing less.' 'Chaotic situation': Two arrested, woman detained as crowd surrounds federal agents in Worcester On that day, a large crowd encircled ICE agents attempting to detain a a Brazilian woman. Video from the scene shows several ICE agents and other law enforcement entities being followed by a crowd while they took the woman into custody. A Worcester School Committee candidate, Ashley Spring, was arrested at the scene for allegedly attacking a police officer. A juvenile female was also arrested for allegedly endangering a child and resisting arrest. Haxhiaj said she is a former refugee who escaped violence living in both Albania and Greece. She says her life calling is to help others. 'Protecting the most vulnerable should not lead to being targeted and vilified,' Haxhiaj said. 'And working to improve policing in our city by calling for oversight and accountability should not provoke political grandstanding and attacks. I look forward to responding to these charges in court.' This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW
Daily Mail
02-06-2025
- General
- Daily Mail
Democrat councilwoman BLOCKS arrest of migrant who beat up her pregnant daughter
Police bodycam footage captured the chaotic moment a Massachusetts councilwoman attempted to block the arrest of a migrant who allegedly beat up her pregnant daughter. The intense encounter took place on May 8 in Worcester - about 50 minutes outside of Boston - when ICE agents confronted a crowd of about 25 'unruly' activists as they tried to arrest Rosane Ferreira de Oliveira. De Oliveira, 40, entered the US illegally in August 2022. While agents attempted to apprehend de Oliveira, who is accused of assaulting her pregnant 16-year-old daughter, Democrat City Councilor Etel Haxhiaj was seen grabbing ICE officers and shouting at them to 'get out of our neighborhood.' Following the dramatic incident, authorities said Haxhiaj 'incited aggression towards the police' and 'eventually assaulted both Worcester police and federal law enforcement officers on scene.' The Worcester Police Patrolman's Union also noted that the councilwoman's 'behavior also emboldened others to act in this manner,' as many bystanders were seen filming the moment and also screaming at officers. Officials have called for an ethics investigation to take place following the ordeal, as Massachusetts US Attorney Leah Foley warned that her office will look into anyone who tries to interfere with ICE operations, including elected officials. 'This conduct poses significant public and officer safety risks. It is conduct that should be vilified rather than glorified,' Foley said. The overwhelming scene began when police officers arrived to help ICE officers who requested assistance with the rowdy crowd. De Oliveira's teenage daughter, dressed in a black and white sweater vest, was seen with her face on the hood of a car as officers surrounded her. Haxhiaj was then seen interfering, as she put her finger in an officer's face before turning to the 16-year-old, screaming: 'Let her go! Do not touch her!' Other people then gathered around the scene as the teen suspect shouted: 'Don't touch me!' 'Don't touch her!,' Haxhiaj then yelled as she shoved an ICE officer's arm and tried to get a hold of the girl. During another moment, the councilwoman was seen arguing with several officers on the sidewalk begging them to let the teenager go. 'She hasn't done anything. She's traumatized. She's my constituent!,' she yelled as officers pushed her back. Haxhiaj added: 'She's my constituent and you're hurting her!' She then questioned why the minor was being arrested, telling officers: 'She has done nothing!' An officer then addressed her as councilor and warned her to back away. He continued: 'Back away and get your hands off of us!' Both de Oliveira and her teenage daughter, who has not been named, were taken into custody after the minor ran after the car her mother was in and kicked its passenger side, according to Mass Live. Just before she ran toward the vehicle, she handed off her sister's child to another person. The juvenile was arrested and charged with reckless endangerment of a child, disturbing the peace, disorderly conduct and resisting arrest. She was later released from custody. De Oliveira, who authorities said is a 'violent criminal illegal alien,' has been charged with endangerment of a child, disturbing the peace, disorderly conduct and resisting arrest. The Worcester Police Department said the investigation is ongoing, Fox News reported.
CBS News
18-05-2025
- Politics
- CBS News
Union president says Worcester officers "acted totally appropriately" during ICE arrest of mother
Worcester Police union says officers do not assist ICE arrests but do answer safety calls Worcester Police union says officers do not assist ICE arrests but do answer safety calls Worcester Police union says officers do not assist ICE arrests but do answer safety calls The President of the Worcester Police Patrolmen's Union says his officers had a measured and restrained response to the crowd that formed while ICE arrested a Brazilian mother on May 8. "The video shows that our officers acted totally appropriately in a very difficult, chaotic situation," Union President Thomas Duffy said. The city released police body camera footage of the incident on the Friday after protests erupted in response to the woman's arrest, and some city officials condemned the behavior of federal officers and Worcester Police. According to dispatch audio, Worcester Police were called to the scene on Eureka Street by ICE agents who said they were being surrounded by a crowd. The body camera footage starts with officers arriving after ICE agents had already had 40-year-old Rosane Ferreira de Oliveira in custody inside a nearby vehicle. Active city councilor at ICE arrest The footage shows a crowd of people around the ICE agents, including Ferreira de Oliveira's two daughters and Worcester City Councilor Etel Haxhiaj. Near the beginning of the footage, Haxhiaj is seen walking into a group of ICE officers and is pushed away by them. "We had an active city councilor, Etel Haxhiaj, from District 5, who was inciting the crowd, physically touched our officers and federal agents on the scene," Duffy said. At one point, Haxhiaj is seen with one of Ferreira de Oliveira's daughters, who was holding a baby next to the car where her mother was held. "This is my constituent. No, please do not touch me," she told police as they tried to move both of them away from the vehicle. The baby was also passed to the 17-year-old daughter of Ferreira de Oliveira while she was standing in front of the car. Worcester officers told the girl that she was endangering a child. Officers tried to move her away from the car. When the car with her mother inside started driving away, she ran after it, and Worcester police officers chased her, brought her to the ground, and took her into custody. Police did not assist with arrest, union president says Duffy says none of this was done to assist ICE with their arrest. "We don't assist ICE, we were not working in connection with them during this incident, but as part of our oath, we will respond for the safety of any state, federal, local law enforcement agency who calls and needs assistance," he said. Worcester Police Chief Paul Saucier said the videos were released to "illustrate the chaotic nature of the situation as experienced by the officers who had to make rapid, critical decisions in the moment to ensure the safety of everyone on the scene." Worcester Police are now asking the court to drop charges against the 17-year-old. Also on Friday, Worcester City Manager Eric Batista issued an Executive Order that reaffirmed guidelines for local response and involvement in federal enforcement of immigration laws and operations. The order states that city workers and officers should not inquire or initiate investigations based on immigration status. The city said municipal employees should not participate in a federal agency's operation on immigration laws, "except in response to a request to assist with support services deemed necessary to ensure officer safety; to ensure public safety; to prevent a breach of the peace." Elected officials from Acton, Chelsea, Waltham, and Worcester also signed a letter urging Governor Maura Healey to stop ICE in the state. WBZ-TV reached out to Councilor Haxhiaj for comment, but did not receive a response.
