RED BANK, NJ — Two people were arrested by U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE) following a crash on Friday.
On Friday, Oct. 16, ICE agents tried to conduct a traffic stop of a vehicle near the Red Bank Train Station.
When agents tried to stop the vehicle, driven by Baldomero Sanchez Mendez, the car crossed into oncoming traffic in an attempt to evade officers, an ICE spokesperson told Patch.
Mendez's vehicle then struck a government vehicle going the opposite direction head-on, disabling both cars.
Following the crash, agents arrested Mendez and Agnelo Medel Robles, who was a passenger in the car.
Red Bank police were not notified of any planned ICE enforcement activity within the borough and had no prior knowledge of, or involvement in, the federal operation, borough officials said.
According to ICE, Mendez was arrested in January 2005 by Border Patrol after illegally entering the country near Naco, Arizona, and was given a voluntary return to his home country of Mexico.
In April 2017, he was arrested by HSI in Red Bank and placed into removal proceedings.
In August 2019, an immigration judge ordered Mendez removed from the U.S. for failing to appear for his proceedings.
He received due process and will remain in ICE custody pending his removal, and will be referred for potential prosecution for assaulting, resisting, or impeding federal officers, authorities said.
Robles, also of Mexico, entered the country illegally at an unknown time and place, according to ICE.
"ICE law enforcement officers are trained to use the minimum amount of force necessary to resolve dangerous situations to prioritize the safety of the public and our officers," the spokesperson said. "Officers are highly trained in de-escalation tactics and regularly receive ongoing use of force training."
The statement from ICE went on to say that agents have seen "a highly coordinated campaign of violence against our law enforcement."
"This violence must end," the spokesperson said. "Anybody who lays a hand on our officers or tries to obstruct them is committing a felony and a federal crime."
Following Friday's crash, both Mendez and an ICE agent sustained minor injuries, borough officials said.
Red Bank is urging county and state agencies to conduct further review of the circumstances surrounding the incident to ensure "a thorough and independent examination of the actions taken."
Additionally, the borough is encouraging anyone who witnessed the incident or has information regarding potential misconduct by federal agents to report their observations through the NJ Office of the Attorney General's reporting portal.
"The borough remains committed to public safety, transparency, accountability, and ensuring that residents have accurate information regarding incidents occurring within our community," borough officials said.
A full statement from the borough can be read here.
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