Crime & Safety
ICE Chase Leads To Crash In NJ, Officials Say
Both the driver of the pursued vehicle and an ICE agent were injured in the crash, borough officials said.
RED BANK, NJ — Borough officials are calling for county and state review after an attempted traffic stop by U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE) led to a crash on Friday morning.
On Friday, borough officials said ICE agents tried to conduct a traffic stop of a vehicle near the Red Bank Train Station.
When the vehicle did not stop, a subsequent chase continued several blocks to Catherine Street, where the vehicle was then involved in a crash with another vehicle driven by an ICE agent.
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According to a report from RedBankGreen, videos posted to social media showed immigration agents arresting at least two men as law enforcement officers converged in unmarked cars on Catherine Street just east of Shrewsbury Avenue near Juanito’s grocery.
The driver of the pursued vehicle and the ICE agent both sustained minor injuries as a result of the collision, borough officials said.
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Both vehicles were rendered inoperable and towed from the scene.
As of Monday morning, authorities have not released the identities of the driver or ICE agent involved in the crash.
Patch has reached out to ICE for further information on the incident. This article will be updated if a response is received.
"The Red Bank Police Department was 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 in a statement issued Friday evening.
Red Bank police officers became involved in the incident only after the crash occurred, when police were called to the scene for an accident investigation.
The Red Bank Police Department's involvement was limited to responding to and investigating that crash, officials said.
In the wake of this collision, the borough 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.
To see the full statement from the borough, you can click here.
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