Latest news with #ODLS
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Yahoo
Worcester to release body camera footage of police response to ICE arrest
The 'first phase' of body camera footage taken by Worcester police responding to a crowd that surrounded federal agents detaining a Brazilian woman on May 8 will be released on Friday, Worcester City Manager Eric Batista said. Batista made the announcement during an interview on 'The Talk of the Commonwealth' radio show. 'We are releasing the first phase of body camera footage,' Batista said on the show, shared in a post on X. 'Nothing is redacted in those videos [besides the faces of the minors]' He added that recordings of the 911 calls will also be released. Worcester city spokesperson Tom Matthews and Worcester Police spokesperson Lt. Sean Murtha also confirmed that this information would be released Friday afternoon. Late in the morning of May 8, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents detained Rosane Ferreira-De Oliveira, 40, of Brazil. The day before, ICE agents stopped a car carrying her 21-year-old daughter, Augusta Clara Moura, 21, and her partner, Samarone Alves Ferreira-De Souza, while driving to work. The two have a 3-month-old son. 'His only 'mistake' was honking at a car that had cut him off,' Clara Moura wrote in the description of a GoFundMe campaign, which has raised more than $5,700 as of Friday. 'That vehicle turned out to be an undercover ICE car, and agents decided to arrest him.' Ferreira-De Souza is currently being held at the Pine Prairie Correctional Facility in Pine Prairie, Louisiana, according to ICE's Online Detainee Locator System (ODLS). The following day, ICE agents came to Clara Moura's home and told her to sign immigration papers and 'demanding I return my partner's car,' she wrote. Clara Moura, her baby and her 17-year-old sister left the house in a car and ICE agents stopped them and told her she was under arrest. 'Since I was with my baby, I called my mother to come take my son,' Clara Moura wrote. ICE agents detained Ferreira-De Oliveira and put her inside a car before Clara Moura's 17-year-old sister approached the car. After 11 a.m., a crowd formed and ICE agents called Worcester police to the scene. Clara Moura's sister, carrying Clara Moura's baby, stood in front of the car and tried to stop it, police said in a previous statement. She handed the baby to another woman before she ran up to the car and kicked the passenger side door as it drove away. Officers pushed her to the ground and arrested her for reckless endangerment of a child, disturbing the peace, disorderly conduct and resisting arrest. Additionally, Worcester School Committee candidate Ashley Spring was also arrested in connection with the incident. Spring was charged with assault and battery on a police officer, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, disorderly conduct and interfering with police officers. Spring was released on her own personal recognizance and is scheduled to return to court for a pre-trial hearing on June 23. Andrew George Lattarulo, Clara Moura's lawyer, told MassLive on Thursday that ICE threatened to arrest Clara Moura and her 17-year-old sister, an account that matches exclusive reporting from Rolling Stone Magazine, which reported that Clara Moura and her sister were used as 'bait' for ICE to arrest their mother. Clara Moura's sister has since been released from custody and is now with family friends, along with Clara Moura, Clara Moura's baby and another sister who is also a child. Ferreira-De Oliveira, who comes from Brazil, is currently being detained at the Wyatt Detention Center, in Central Falls, R.I., according to ICE's Online Detainee Locator System (ODLS). The incident has stirred tensions in the city, with protesters standing outside City Hall on three occasions since the day of Ferreira-De Oliveira's arrest. Ahead of a planned protest outside City Hall on Tuesday, the night of a city council meeting, officials announced that the meeting would be held remotely. On the morning of the meeting, Worcester Mayor Joseph Petty said the decision to go remote was out of precaution as elected officials and city employees 'received threats of violence' and 'faced threatening calls and emails.' ICE must show more integrity in deportation arrests (The Republican Editorials) Boston Puerto Rican restaurant opens second location in Worcester Worcester taxi driver attacked after requesting cab fare, police say Read the original article on MassLive.
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
'Living in fear': Daughter of woman taken by ICE in Worcester sets up GoFundMe to support family
The daughter of a woman who was detained by federal agents in Worcester last week, which has led to protests and tensions in the city, created a GoFundMe campaign to support her and her family. Augusta Clara Moura, 21, who set up the fundraiser, explained what happened leading up to the incident on Eureka Street on May 8. That day, her mother, Rosane Ferreira-De Oliveira, was arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents, with Clara's sister and Worcester School Committee candidate Ashley Spring both arrested by Worcester police in connection with the incident. 'Everything began the day before, when ICE arrested my partner [Samarone Alves Ferreira-De Souza] — the father of my 3-month-old son — while he was driving to work," Clara Moura wrote. 'He had committed no crime. His only 'mistake' was honking at a car that had cut him off. That vehicle turned out to be an undercover ICE car, and agents decided to arrest him.' Read more: Honking at undercover ICE car set off Worcester arrest firestorm, family claims Ferreira-De Souza is currently being held at the Pine Prairie Correctional Facility in Pine Prairie, Louisiana, according to ICE's Online Detainee Locator System (ODLS). On the morning of May 8, ICE agents came to Clara Moura's home and told her to sign immigration papers and 'demanding I return my partner's car,' she wrote. Clara Moura, her baby and her 17-year-old sister left the house in a car and ICE agents stopped them and told her she was under arrest. 'Since I was with my baby, I called my mother to come take my son,' Clara Moura wrote. When Ferreira-De Oliveira arrived, ICE agents detained her, her daughter continued. At 11 a.m. that day, Ferreira-De Oliveira was placed in a car in the middle of the streets, according to Jill Phillips of Worcester, who was at the scene. Worcester police were called as people surrounded ICE agents and yelled, 'Where is the warrant?' Ferreira-De Oliveira's other daughter, carrying Clara Moura's baby, stood in front of the car and tried to stop it, police said in a previous statement. She handed the baby to another woman before she ran up to the car and kicked the passenger side door as it drove away. Officers pushed her to the ground and arrested her for reckless endangerment of a child, disturbing the peace, disorderly conduct and resisting arrest. 'They even tried to take my baby from me, but thanks to neighbors who recorded and protested, they backed down,' Clara Moura wrote in the GoFundMe description. Andrew Georges Lattarulo, Clara Moura's lawyer, told MassLive on Thursday that ICE threatened to arrest Clara Moura and her 17-year-old sister, an account that matches exclusive reporting from Rolling Stone Magazine, which reported that Clara Moura and her sister were used as 'bait' for ICE to arrest their mother. Clara Moura's sister has since been released from custody and is now with family friends, along with Clara Moura, Clara Moura's baby and another sister who is also a child. Ferreira-De Oliveira, who comes from Brazil, is currently being detained at the Wyatt Detention Center, in Central Falls, R.I., according to ICE's Online Detainee Locator System (ODLS). 'Now I am living in fear,' Clara Moura wrote. 'I'm staying with friends, unable to return home or retrieve any of my belongings or my baby's things. I cannot work, and I'm struggling to survive. Please consider supporting me and my family during this nightmare.' So far, the fundraiser set up on Wednesday has received two donations totaling $70, with a $45,000 goal. Donations will go toward food, clothes, shelter, legal fees, bail 'and other urgent expenses,' Clara Moura wrote. 'No amount is too small. Your support means the world right now.' 'Thank you for standing with us,' Clara Moura wrote at the end of the GoFundMe's description. Honking at undercover ICE car set off Worcester arrest firestorm, family claims GoFundMe created to support family of boy killed in Boston school bus crash GoFundMe raises money to send body of construction worker killed in Mass. to Ecuador Read the original article on MassLive.
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Yahoo
Honking at undercover ICE car set off Worcester arrest firestorm, family claims
The daughter of Rosane Ferreira-De Oliveira, a Brazilian mother of three who was arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents on May 8 at Eureka Street, says that the arrest of her mother started after her partner honked at an undercover car with ICE agents. Augusta Clara Moura, the 21-year-old daughter of Ferreira-De Oliveira, presented new details about how ICE arrested her mother as well as her partner, and how she was threatened with arrest by ICE agents. Through her attorney, Andrew George Lattarulo, Clara Moura said her partner Samarone Alves Ferreira-De Souza, who is also the father of her 3-month-old baby, was arrested by federal agents the day before ICE took her mother. Lattarulo is also representing Ferreira-De Souza. Ferreira-De Souza had honked at a car that cut him off while he was driving to work, according to Clara Moura. The car turned out to be an undercover ICE vehicle and agents arrested him. 'He had committed no crime,' according to Clara Moura. Ferreira-De Souza is currently being held at the Pine Prairie Correctional Facility in Pine Prairie, Louisiana, according to ICE's Online Detainee Locator System (ODLS). DHS and ICE did not immediately respond to requests for comment about Ferreira-De Souza on Thursday. On May 8, the day after Lattarulo said Ferreira-De Souza was arrested, Clara Moura said ICE came to her home, telling her to return her partner's car and sign immigration paperwork. She said she left her house with her 17-year-old sister and her baby, intending to comply with the order. 'That's when ICE stopped my car and told me I was under arrest,' Clara Moura said. 'Since I was with my baby, I called my mother to come take my son.' When her mother arrived, ICE agents attempted and succeeded in arresting her. Clara Moura claims that ICE agents also attempted to take her baby from her but they backed down due to protests from neighbors. Lattarulo told MassLive on Thursday that ICE threatened to arrest Clara Moura and her 17-year-old sister, an account that matches exclusive reporting from Rolling Stone Magazine, which reported that Clara Moura and her sister were used as 'bait' for ICE to arrest their mother. Clara Moura launched a GoFundMe on Wednesday that details how ICE arrested her mother and partner and how she was threatened with arrest by agents. Lattarulo said that he and his spokesperson helped organize the GoFundMe for Clara Moura. The donations to the GoFundMe will go towards food, clothes, shelter, legal fees, bail and other urgent expenses, according to Clara Moura. As of May 15, there have been two donations, one worth $20 and another worth $50, according to the GoFundMe. 'Now I am living in fear,' Clara Moura writes. 'I'm staying with friends, unable to return home or retrieve any of my belongings or my baby's things. I cannot work, and I'm struggling to survive.' Eureka Street erupted into pandemonium on the morning of May 8 as ICE agents arrested Ferreira-De Oliveira — Clara Moura's mother. More than 30 people confronted federal agents that morning, demanding to see a warrant and shouting at them for their actions. Ferreira-De Oliveira was already placed in a car by 11 a.m. that morning, according to Jill Phillips of Worcester, who was at the scene. Worcester police officers were then called to the scene for a report of a federal agent who was surrounded by a 'large group of about 25 people,' according to a statement from the Worcester Police Department (WPD). At the scene, officers saw several federal agents from various agencies attempting to leave in a car after arresting a woman, police said. As the car was pulling away, Ferreira-De Oliveira's underage daughter, who had a newborn in her arms, stood in front of the vehicle attempting to halt it, police said. Officers told her that she was endangering the baby and that she needed to move. The daughter complied and gave the baby to another woman. As her mother was taken away in the car, the daughter ran after it and kicked the passenger's side. It then appeared as if she was going to run in front of the moving car, police said. Worcester police then moved to arrest the daughter, who was pushed to the ground by police. The daughter was arrested and charged with reckless endangerment of a child, disturbing the peace, disorderly conduct and resisting arrest, according to police. Following her release from custody, the daughter is now with family friends along with Clara Moura, the baby and another daughter of Ferreira-De Oliveira, who is a minor. Ashley R. Spring, a school committee candidate, was also arrested that day. She was charged with assault and battery on a police officer, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, disorderly conduct and interfering with police officers. Appearing in Worcester District Court on May 9, Judge Janet McGuiggan entered a not-guilty plea on Spring's behalf. Spring was released on her own personal recognizance and is scheduled to return to court for a pre-trial hearing on June 23. As of May 15, Ferreira-De Oliveira is currently being held at the Wyatt Detention Center in Central Falls, R.I., according to ICE's Online Detainee Locator System (ODLS). The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) accused Ferreira-De Oliveira of entering the country illegally in 2022, according to a statement from the agency, which was shared with Spectrum News 1 Worcester. Lattarulo told MassLive on Monday that she was seeking asylum. The statement also reads that Worcester police arrested her on charges of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon and assault and battery on a pregnant victim. Court records obtained by MassLive read that Ferreira-De Oliveira was suspected of using a phone-charging cable to strike a pregnant relative three months ago. She initially appeared in court on Feb. 3, where she pleaded not guilty and paid $500 cash bail, according to court records. Her last court appearance was a pre-trial hearing on March 24. On Tuesday, Judge Zachary Hillman scheduled Ferreira-De Oliveira's trial date for July 18, according to court filings. In the wake of the arrests on Eureka Street, protests have been held in Worcester, the most recent one taking place on May 13 outside City Hall. The rally, which was organized by Mysti Green, Walter Crockett and members of the progressive political group Worcester Indivisible, featured signs with phrases such as 'Crush ICE.' One poster presented an image of Worcester City Manager Eric D. Batista wearing a vest that reads ICE. Chants for ICE to 'get out of Worcester' rang throughout the common as people banged on drums and rang cowbells. Initially, the rally was set to take place leading up to a City Council meeting on Tuesday at 6:30. The meeting was switched from in-person to virtual after the rally was announced. Worcester Mayor Joseph Petty said city officials received 'threats of violence.' Some residents did attend the virtual city council meeting, with some speaking during a public comment period in order to admonish the city council, the city administration and WPD. Some accused the department of collaborating with ICE in their operation on Eureka Street. 'There are two explanations for this,' said Marcus Palumbo of Clark University at the meeting. 'Either you, the council, have completely lost control over the police department, or you are actively complicit in their actions.' In his comments during the meeting, Petty said that there needs to be an understanding of what Worcester Police Officers can do when it comes to dealing with ICE. Last week, Petty filed an order asking City Manager Eric D. Batista and Worcester Police Chief Paul Saucier to draft a new policy regarding interactions between city officials and ICE. 'I take this seriously,' Petty said. 'I think the Worcester Police Department went to the scene and were trying to calm things down. And this is why we need to have a policy and protocols on how we interact with ICE.' City Council Vice Chairman and Councilor-at-Large Khrystian King praised District 5 Councilor Etel Haxhiaj for her leadership during the incident on Eureka Street. Haxhiaj was one of many people who confronted ICE agents on Thursday during the arrest of the mother. King also renewed his call for a civilian review board to provide police oversight and said there could have been a better response to how Worcester Police Officers handled the arrest of the mother's daughter. 'This child should have been held, she should have been restrained. She wasn't trying to harm anyone,' King said. 'She was trying to save her family and doesn't speak the language. We don't know what was going on in her head. We can do better and we must do better.' Worcester taxi driver attacked after requesting cab fare, police say GoFundMe raises money for family of woman detained by ICE in Worcester US Attorney says interference with ICE in Mass. has been 'disturbing,' won't be tolerated Read the original article on MassLive.
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Yahoo
Worcester judge sets trial date for woman detained by ICE on separate charge
A trial date has been set for a Brazilian woman, who last week was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents, in connection with a domestic case she was previously charged with. Rosane Ferreira-De Oliveira was charged with one count of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon on a pregnant victim. She initially appeared in court on Feb. 3, where she pleaded not guilty and paid $500 cash bail, according to court records. Her last court appearance was a pretrial hearing on March 24. On Tuesday, Judge Zachary Hillman scheduled Ferreira-De Oliveira's trial date for July 18, according to court filings. Hillman requested that the Worcester County Sheriff's Department arrange for Ferreira-De Oliveira to be present in court that day. Ferreira-De Oliveira is currently being detained at the Wyatt Detention Center in Central Falls, R.I., according to ICE's Online Detainee Locator System (ODLS). Defense attorney Sarah Amorin asked Judge Hillman to lift a no-contact order with Ferreira-De Oliveira's relative, the Telegram & Gazette reported. While Assistant District Attorney Matthew Kimmelstiel objected, Hillman ruled in favor of Amorin's motion, but noted that the conditions against Ferreira-De Oliveira and her relative living together were still enforced. Kimmelstiel argued against the trial date, and added that it will be difficult to prepare with a two-month time window with Ferreira-De Oliveira in ICE's custody, the Telegram wrote. He said Worcester County District Attorney Joseph Early Jr. will ask ICE not to deport Ferreira-De Oliveira until the domestic case has concluded. At 1:47 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 1, a Worcester police officer went to an apartment on Main Street, the police report read. A relative told the officer that Ferreira-De Oliveira struck them with a phone charging cable and was aware of the person's pregnancy. Ferreira-De Oliveira was arrested that day. Days after ICE agents detained Ferreira-De Oliveira and Worcester police arrested two people, including Ferreira-De Oliveira's daughter and Worcester School Committee candidate Ashley Spring, the Department of Homeland Security issued a statement about Ferreira-De Oliveira's prior charges. 'The target of this ICE operation was a violent criminal illegal alien, Ferreira de Oliveira. She was arrested by local police for assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, and assault and battery on a pregnant victim,' according to the statement obtained by WHDH-TV. In the days after Ferreira-De Oliveira's arrest by ICE, residents have spoken out online and protests have been held outside City Hall. Following two protests on Thursday night and Saturday afternoon, another protest is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday. After Tuesday night's city council meeting was set to be held remotely, Mayor Joseph Petty said Tuesday morning that it was done so after elected and city officials received 'threats of violence.' In holding the meeting remotely, Petty added that the decision was made 'in the hope of easing tensions and to provide more time to get information to the community.' Is Worcester breaking Open Meeting Law by going virtual? What the AG's office says Worcester mayor says council meeting will be remote due to 'threats of violence' Worcester City Council meeting to be held virtually 'due to public safety concerns' Read the original article on MassLive.
