Introduction to the Incident
A man and a woman were charged in federal court Sunday after U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents alleged their vehicle was struck and blocked by a pair of vehicles on Saturday. According to a criminal complaint filed in the U.S. District Court of Chicago, 30-year-old Marimar Martinez and 21-year-old Anthony Ian Santos Ruiz were both charged with using their vehicles to assault, impede and interfere with the work of federal agents in Chicago near the intersection of West 39th Street and South Kedzie Avenue.
Details of the Incident
The complaint says the three CBP agents involved in the incident were tasked with operating as a mobile security detail in Oak Lawn for other CBP agents in other CBP vehicles on Saturday. At some point Saturday morning, the CBP agents said multiple civilian vehicles began to aggressively follow their vehicle and others driven by fellow CBP agents. The complaint alleges the civilian vehicles’ pursuit included running red lights and stop signs, driving in the wrong lane, and driving the wrong way down one-way streets in order to pursue them.
Confrontation and Arrest
According to the CBP agents, it was at this point that the driver of their vehicle drove away in an effort to draw the pursuing civilians away from other CBP vehicles, which led them to drive northbound on Kedzie Avenue into Chicago. The complaint goes on to allege that Martinez and Ruiz used their vehicles to box in and strike a vehicle driven by a CBP agent with two other CBP agents inside of it on Saturday morning. After striking the agents’ vehicle, Martinez and Ruiz’s vehicles remained southbound of the agents’ vehicle. The driver of the CBP agents’ vehicle then brought their vehicle to a stop, and the CBP agents exited the vehicle, the complaint states.
Use of Force by CBP Agents
It was at this point, the CBP agent who was behind the wheel and one of the other two CBP agents said Martinez’s vehicle drove northbound toward the CBP agent who was driving. The CBP agent who was driving then fired approximately five shots from his service weapon at Martinez, according to the complaint. The complaint then alleges that both Martinez and Ruiz drove away after the incident and were later found within a mile of where the crash originally happened.
Aftermath and Charges
Martinez was found at a repair shop about one mile away, where she was taken by ambulance to a local hospital and received medical treatment after being shot, the complaint said. Ruiz’s vehicle backed into a parked car, did a U-turn, and parked about half a block south of the collision at a gas station, where Ruiz stayed until he was arrested by CBP agents, according to the complaint. Martinez and Ruiz remain in police custody, pending initial appearances in federal court in Chicago.
Previous Coverage and Official Statements
On Saturday, Officials with the Department of Homeland Security said border patrol agents were conducting a routine patrol in the area of West 39th Street and South Kedzie Avenue when they were allegedly "attacked and rammed by vehicles and boxed in by 10 cars." Agents then got out of the alleged trapped vehicle, and officials said that was when a female suspect—who is a US citizen—allegedly tried to run them over, forcing the agents to open fire. DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said in a statement that the woman who allegedly tried to run the CBP agents over was also allegedly armed with a “semi-automatic weapon.”
Conclusion
The incident highlights the risks and challenges faced by law enforcement officers, including CBP agents, in the line of duty. The use of force by the agents in this case was reportedly in response to a perceived threat to their safety, and the incident is under investigation. The charges against Martinez and Ruiz are serious and reflect the severity of the alleged offenses. As the case proceeds through the federal court system, it will be important to consider the facts and circumstances surrounding the incident, as well as the broader context of law enforcement and community relations.
FAQs
Q: What were the charges against Marimar Martinez and Anthony Ian Santos Ruiz?
A: Martinez and Ruiz were charged with using their vehicles to assault, impede and interfere with the work of federal agents.
Q: What happened during the incident on Saturday?
A: According to the complaint, multiple civilian vehicles began to aggressively follow the CBP agents’ vehicle, and Martinez and Ruiz used their vehicles to box in and strike the agents’ vehicle.
Q: Was anyone injured during the incident?
A: Yes, Martinez was shot by a CBP agent and received medical treatment at a local hospital.
Q: What was the response from the Department of Homeland Security?
A: DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin condemned the violence and dehumanization of law enforcement officers, stating that they are simply enforcing the law and deserve respect and safety.
Q: What is the current status of Martinez and Ruiz?
A: They remain in police custody, pending initial appearances in federal court in Chicago.
