Two individuals are now in federal custody after allegedly ramming their vehicle into an official U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) car and then barricading themselves inside a nearby home, forcing a stand-off that drew in the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
According to federal officials, the ICE officers attempted a routine vehicle stop around 8 a.m. when the driver refused to stop, fled the scene, and then returned to ram the vehicle with two officers inside, ABC15 reported.
The officers were transported to the hospital and are expected to be released, according to AZFamily.
Once the vehicle arrived at the home, the pair exited and barricaded themselves inside, prompting a multi-agency response. After several hours, the two suspects surrendered and were taken into custody.
The FBI’s Phoenix office has opened an “Assault on a Federal Officer (AFO)” investigation:
“FBI Phoenix is on the scene in Avondale and has opened an Assault on a Federal Officer (AFO) case following this morning’s attempted vehicle stop by ICE officers whereby the target vehicle failed to stop, attempted to return to a residence and upon arrival at the residence rammed into an ICE vehicle occupied by two officers.
Following the AFO investigation in Avondale, the results will be turned over to the U.S. Attorney’s Office – District of Arizona, for a charging decision. The FBI was not part of the initial ICE/ERO law enforcement activity this morning.”
While federal authorities assert the occupants rammed the ICE vehicle, relatives of the arrested dispute that narrative.
More from AZFamily:
Charyln Flores, a woman who lives at the house, disputes what the feds say happened. She said the ICE officers were the ones who rammed her husband’s truck.
Flores said her husband and her uncle are the ones in custody. She said she was the one who came out first from the house with her baby with ICE officers all over the street.
Flores said ICE agents gave her the speakerphone, and she was the one talking to her husband and uncle on the loudspeaker, pleading with them to come outside.
She’s left wondering where they’re going to end up. “I love him. And then I’m going to fight to get him back with me or that I’m going to leave and be with him over there, wherever they take him. I don’t know where they’re going to leave him. I don’t know if they’re going to deport him or anything,” Flores said.
Flores did admit that her husband and his uncle did not have documentation to legally be here in the U.S., but they had work permits.
She also said her mother-in-law and brother-in-law were arrested and deported earlier this year.
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