FULLERTON, Calif. — An incident on Sunday afternoon in Santa Ana, California, saw a police officer step in when he observed a man, who later claimed to be an agent with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), aiming a firearm at another driver, authorities reported.
Footage of part of the altercation, shared on social media, depicts the plainclothes ICE agent holding a gun while interacting with law enforcement officers.
The event took place at approximately 12:18 p.m. when a Fullerton Police Department officer noticed two vehicles halted at an intersection.
The officer reportedly witnessed a man exit his vehicle, brandishing a gun at a woman driving the car behind him.
“The officer promptly intervened to assist, unaware of the man’s identity or the situation that was unfolding,” stated the Fullerton police in an official release.
Police explained that the armed individual identified himself as an ICE agent, presented his credentials, and claimed that the woman had been tailing and filming him.
“The Fullerton Police Officer informed the agent that he could not assist with someone following or recording him if no crime had occurred, and that local law enforcement (Santa Ana PD) was en route. The female left the area shortly after,” police said.
Fullerton police said its officer left the scene after reiterating to the ICE agent that he would not assist if no crime had occurred.
“ICE is a federal law enforcement agency, and Fullerton Police Officers will assist them, and any other local, state, or federal law enforcement agency, in situations involving immediate officer safety,” Fullerton police said in a statement. “However, Senate Bill 54 prohibits local law enforcement from participating in immigration enforcement. The Fullerton Police Department has not and will not participate in immigration enforcement efforts.”
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