AG Healey Launches Investigation Into Bristol ICE Detainee Ambush

NORTH DARTMOUTH, MA — Attorney General Maura Healey announced on Tuesday that she is seeking video surveillance of the C. Carlos Carreiro Immigration Detention Center from Friday night as part of an investigation into an incident where the Bristol County Sheriff's Office said about 10 ICE detainees rushed correctional officers.

Bristol County Sheriff Thomas Hodgson issued a statement Friday night saying the detainees claimed new coronavirus symptoms, then refused tests. He said they then barricaded themselves in the unit, ripped pipes from the walls and damaged washing machines, causing "excessive" damage in the thousands of dollars.

Hodgson said no officers were injured in the incident and that detainees were moved to single cells pending disciplinary action and COVID-19 testing.

U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren and U.S. Rep. Joseph Kennedy called for an investigation into the incident over the weekend after detainees said Hodgson escalated the dispute when they sought to be examined in their unit instead of the medical unit.

"Reports about the incident at Bristol County jail are very concerning." Healey said in a statement Tuesday. "My office has opened an investigation to get more details about what happened and to ensure public health and safety at this facility."

Healey said her office reached out to the Bristol County Sheriff's Office and is in touch with advocates about their concerns regarding the detainees involved.

Hogdson said on his personal social media account on Tuesday that he welcomed a Department of Homeland Security investigation into what happened Friday night.

"Office of Inspector General informed me today they will be the official agency conducting the independent investigation of last week's disturbance at the ICE facility," Hogdson said. "I'm looking forward to the results of the final report."

He also shot back on Monday at reports that he or his staff were the aggressors in the incident.

"Of all the lies and fiction being peddled by political activist attorneys about Friday’s incident (at the) ICE facility," he wrote, "saying I threw a detainee to the ground and pepper sprayed him is the most ridiculous and absurd."

Gov. Charlie Baker said on Monday that looking into the circumstances of the incident was on his "to-do list" and cautioned against "drawing any conclusions one way or the other" in the dispute.

"What I would say is that it's a whole series of back-and-forths going on in respect to what happened there," Baker said during his Monday news conference.

Related Patch Coverage: Gov. Baker: No 'Drawing Conclusions' On Bristol ICE Incident

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