Nicaraguan Charged With Assaulting Multiple ICE Officers In Pittsburgh

PITTSBURGH, PA — A Nicaraguan citizen has been indicted by a federal grand jury on a charge of assaulting an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer while being apprehended for being illegally present in the United States.

The altercation between Darwin Alexander Davila-Perez, 33, of Mt. Washington, and the ICE officer occurred in December, Troy Rivetti, the U.S. Attorney from Pittsburgh, announced on Wednesday.

According to the indictment, the Department of Homeland Security previously had learned that Davila-Perez had attempted to purchase a firearm from a federal firearms licensee,claiming to be a United States citizen. The firearm sale was denied by the FFL as Davila-Perez is a citizen and national of Nicaragua with no legal status to be present in the United States.

Federal law prohibits those without legal status from purchasing firearms.

According to the indictment, when officers with ICE activated the emergency lights on their vehicle and attempted to detain him, Davila-Perez forcefully resisted, including backing his vehicle into a law enforcement vehicle with an officer still inside, fleeing his vehicle, elbowing an officer in the face, attempting to unholster an officer’s service weapon, biting an officer’s arm, and striking an officer in the forehead with a swinging handcuff.

Throughout this incident, officers gave commands to Davila-Perez, such as to stop and to give up his hands, in both English and Spanish. Davila-Perez, however, actively resisted, ignored their commands, and remained noncompliant until he was secured and in handcuffs. The officers suffered contusions, abrasions, and a bite mark, requiring medical attention.

Davila-Perez has remained in custody since his arrest. He faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, or both.