SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY – The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) announced July 25, that two San Bernardino County surgery center staffers were federally charged with assaulting and obstructing ICE agents during an attempted detention.
Jose de Jesus Ortega, 38, of Highland, was arrested Friday, and law enforcement is looking for Danielle Nadine Davila, 33, of Corona.
Ortega and Davila are charged with assaulting a federal officer and conspiring to block him from doing his job.
United States Attorney Bill Essayli said this story is another example of a false narrative echoed in the media to delegitimize federal agents.
Video showing the arrest circulated on social media at the time of the incident.
“It doesn’t matter who you are or where you work, if you assault our agents or otherwise interfere with our operations, you will be arrested and charged with a federal crime,” said Essayli.
Officers wore official gear and used an unmarked government vehicle
According to the affidavit, on July 8 two ICE officers were conducting immigration operations in Ontario. The officers wore official gear, including vests, and used an unmarked government vehicle.
The officers followed a truck with three men as it suddenly turned into a surgery center parking lot in Ontario.
Officers approached as the men exited the truck; two ran off.
One fleeing man, an undocumented Honduran, resisted near the surgery center entrance, causing both him and an ICE officer to fall. A medical staffer then helped the man up and pulled him away from the officer.
The man ran into the surgery center, with the ICE officer pursuing and eventually stopping him.
Defendants face up to eight years for assault and six years for conspiracy
According to the DOJ, Ortega and Davila, in medical scrubs, obstructed the arrest – Davila pushed the officer and shouted, while Ortega grabbed his arm and vest.
The officer called for backup, and another ICE agent arrived to find multiple staff grabbing the first officer.
The officers detained, handcuffed the man, and exited the surgery center with him.
If convicted, the defendants face up to eight years for assault and six years for conspiracy in federal prison.
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 announced July 25, that two San Bernardino County surgery center staffers were federally charged with assaulting and obstructing ICE agents during an attempted detention. ){kind=link}