Suspect Detained After Austin Police Squad Car Interior Lit On Fire During Protest

NORTH AUSTIN, TX — An unknown suspect smashed the rear window of an unoccupied patrol car before throwing lit fireworks inside the vehicle during this weekend's protests against bolstered immigration enforcement throughout the city, according to a published report.

According to the Austin American-Statesman, the Austin Fire Department is investigating the incident that occurred around 3 a.m. on Sunday at the intersection of North Lamar and Rundberg Lane where the protesters staged their rally against heightened Immigration and Customs Enforcement activity.

The interior of the Austin Police Department patrol car was damaged after it caught fire, according to police. According to police, the person alleged to have damaged the patrol car was seen fleeing the scene as a passenger in a car. The suspect then fled on foot after the car was pulled over but was ultimately detained by police, according to the news report.

Reportedly, a traffic cone also was set on fire at around the same time as the launched fireworks incident.

More than 100 people were gathered en masse this weekend to protest the bolstered ICE presence that has resulted in more than 40 people being arrested locally. U.S. Rep. Joaquín Castro previously verified that the detention of undocumented immigrants are part of a broader operation dubbed "Operation Cross Check."

Separately, a protester is reportedly facing felony charges after being detained by police during a regular East Austin protest decrying gentrification that numbers some overlapping members currently protesting ICE. The reason for the activist's arrest are unclear.

"Austin's racist pig department is targeting black women organizers," the organizer of a GoFundMe page designed to help defray legal costs reads. "At a militant anti-gentrification demo a veteran organizer was arrested and is facing serious trumped up felony charges. We have to fight like hell and pull out all the stops to support this comrade. Please donate anything you can and share widely."

As of Monday morning, the drive had collected just over $1,400 toward an $8,000 goal.

>>> Read the full story about police car fire at Austin American-Statesman

Photo above of protest sign seen at recent vigil in wake of heightened ICE presence by Tony Cantú